Economic Offence Wing traces fake marriage assistance applications

Bhopal’s Economic Offence Wing (EOW) launched an inquiry that exposed a network of fabricated applications under Madhya Pradesh’s “Marriage Assistance Scheme”.

The scheme, intended to provide financial aid of Rs 51,000 to the daughters of registered construction workers, was manipulated by officials who produced dummy forms and forged documents. Over 30.18 crore rupees were misappropriated, with the money funneled into bank accounts opened on false premises.

The EOW’s FIR led to the arrest of former Sironj Janpad Panchayat CEO Shobhit Tripathi, who, together with accomplices, oversaw the approvals between 2019 and November 2021. The illicit cash was quickly withdrawn and distributed to non‑eligible recipients, inflating the fraud.

A prior raid on October 3, 2025, recovered crucial paperwork and electronic devices, providing the evidence needed to trace the flow of funds and confirm the extent of the scheme’s exploitation.