Man accused in Gujarat MGNREGS scam assaults villager over alleged whistleblower complaint

VADODARA: A man accused of embezzling funds under the MGNREGS in Gujarat allegedly bit and assaulted a villager whom he suspected of filing acomplaint against him.

After a Rs 71 crore scam surfaced in Dahod district, complaints of irregularities in MGNREGS works emerged in Panchmahal as well.

Sources said a grievance was filed on the state govt’s complaint portal regarding misappropriation of funds in Junidhari village. The complaint alleged that payments were made for land levelling and construction of a well, but no such work was undertaken. It named three people, including Sandeep Machhi of Junidhari, responsible for the scam.

Sandeep Sunday intercepted Kishan Machhi, another resident of Junidhari, demanded he step out of his car, and verbally abused him. Accusing Kishan of filing the complaint, Sandeep bit his little finger causing it to bleed, and then assaulted him. When a villager intervened, Sandeep fled threatening to kill Kishan.Kishan is being treated in hospital.