Dahod, Gujarat — 17 May 2025 — A significant corruption scandal has emerged in Gujarat’s Dahod district, involving the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Balvantsinh Khabad, son of State Minister for Panchayat and Agriculture, Bachubhai Khabad, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the alleged ₹71 crore scam. His younger brother, Kiran Khabad, remains absconding.
Uncovering the Scam
The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) initiated an investigation following reports of irregularities in MGNREGA projects in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas. The probe revealed that several infrastructure projects, including roads and bunds, existed only on paper. Funds allocated for these projects were allegedly siphoned off through forged certificates and fake invoices, with payments directed to agencies linked to the minister’s sons.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings
Balvantsinh Khabad’s arrest follows the withdrawal of anticipatory bail applications by both brothers earlier this month. Alongside Balvantsinh, Darshan Patel, the then Taluka Development Officer (TDO), was also arrested. These arrests bring the total number of individuals detained in connection with the scam to seven, including government officials and technical assistants.
Political Repercussions
The opposition has seized upon the scandal, with Congress leaders demanding the resignation of Minister Bachubhai Khabad. Leader of Opposition Amit Chavda has called for a comprehensive criminal investigation, alleging that the minister’s sons received unchecked payments for years.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities have frozen all ongoing MGNREGA payments in the district. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to delve deeper into the scam, which may extend beyond the initially estimated ₹71 crore. Investigators are scrutinizing records from other talukas to determine the full extent of the fraud.
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