The modus operandi, the officer said, differed from place to place and was not a centralized fraud. (Reuters)
Findings from a CB-CID investigation into the PM Kisan scheme scam in Tamil Nadu suggest that fraudulent elements, most of them backed by local politicians, also stole money from various other welfare schemes.
Researchers have also found that some of the beneficiaries on the list, including poor farmers and farm workers, received no money and had not even heard of the scheme. The scammers, the investigation found, collected documents from them to create bank accounts in their name without their knowledge.
READ | Tamil Nadu: Not just PM-Kisan, scammers may have targeted other schemes too
During the lockdown, a senior official investigating the case said that local leaders of political parties, including the BJP and the ruling AIADMK, organized “loan festivals.” At these events, people were promised loans and financial benefits from the state and central government.
Read also | This ‘plastic wall’ in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris helps prevent landslides
With three students taking their own lives the day before Sunday’s NEET exam, lead actor Suriya was among those who issued statements condemning the situation in Tamil Nadu for the controversial competitive exams. But parts of the popular Tamil actor’s statement have now caused a firestorm with a Madras High Court judge calling for a contempt action and retired senior judges who lined up in support of the star.
READ | Explained: Why Tamil Actor Suriya’s Statements About NEET Are Being Examined For Contempt Of Court
The statement had a part that referred to the judiciary: “The courts were administering justice through video conferencing due to fears of life-threatening coronavirus (but) they are ordering students to fearlessly write exams.” This offended Justice SM Subramaniam, who wrote to Chief Justice AP Sahi to initiate contempt proceedings against Suriya. Judge Subramaniam wrote that the statement states that “honorable judges fear for their own lives and do justice through video conferencing. Meanwhile, they don’t have the morale to pass orders directing students to take the NEET test without fear. “
Tamil Nadu Chennai Coronavirus Highlights of September 16-17
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