Farm pond and PM Housing scam exposed in MP:Officers gave false information in RTI; funds never reached beneficiaries

A case of corruption has come to light in the Khurai Janpad Panchayat of Sagar district. Here, funds for Prime Minister Housing, farm ponds, and toilet schemes were withdrawn, while work was not done at many places. The work was shown as completed on paper. Not only this, but the concerned department also gave wrong and incomplete information in the Right to Information (RTI). The allegations are against Naresh Kurmi, the employment assistant of Basahari Gram Panchayat. After the matter came to light, villagers submitted a memorandum to the in-charge Janpad CEO Meena Kashyap and SDM Manoj Chaurasia on May 19, demanding action. The Dainik Bhaskar team reached Basahari village, 27 kilometers from Khurai. During conversations with beneficiaries and on-site inspection, it was found that funds did not reach the accounts of many people, while payment and work completion were shown in the records.
Declared ineligible for housing, then the matter opened up RTI activist Pratap Singh Rajput said that he had applied for Pradhan Mantri Awas in 2018, but the housing was not approved. In August 2025, employment assistant Naresh Kurmi declared him ineligible without giving any reason and cancelled his application. Pratap said that once his name appeared in the list, but his father’s name was not recorded. A survey of the house had also been conducted. On April 1, 2026, he sought information about eligible beneficiaries under the Right to Information. The information received on April 30 was incomplete. After this, he checked the online records, which revealed several irregularities. According to him, amounts for housing, toilets, and farm ponds were withdrawn in the names of 15 to 20 people, while many beneficiaries were not even aware of this. Pratap stated that on May 19, he complained to the Sagar Collector, Khurai Janpad CEO, and SDM, but no action has been taken so far. Farm pond amount withdrawn, pond not constructed The Bhaskar team met with Ashok, son of Bhagirath Chadhar. He stated that a farm pond was sanctioned in his father’s name. Later, it was discovered that approximately 2 lakh 59 thousand 374 rupees were withdrawn, and the work was shown as completed in the records. When the team reached the field, there was no pond there, not even a one-foot deep pit. Villagers say that this has also been confirmed in the physical verification. Incomplete house, one lakh ₹20k released Kundanlal, son of Shankar Kurmi’s Pradhan Mantri Awas (Prime Minister’s Housing), is still incomplete, but one lakh ₹20k have been released. Documents obtained through RTI show the construction as complete. The house was also found incomplete in physical verification. Toilets not built, amount sanctioned, did not come to account Harprasad Ahirwar, a resident of the village, said that a toilet was not built at his house, but ₹12k were withdrawn. Meanwhile, Kundanlal Kurmi said that he had applied for a toilet. The amount was sanctioned, but did not come to his account. After waiting, he got the toilet built with his own money. Later, it was found that ₹12k was also withdrawn in his name. Villagers allege that the employment assistant withdrew government funds by preparing cases without informing the beneficiaries. Their demand is that an investigation should be conducted for the entire tenure, and action should be taken against the guilty. Employment Assistant did not spare neighbors either According to RTI documents, the employment assistant also got housing sanctioned in the names of neighbor Bhagirath Vishwakarma and his son Rajkumar Vishwakarma. One lakh ₹20 thousand were withdrawn, but the construction was not done. Villagers allege that the employment assistant also benefited his family and acquaintances. These include cousin brothers Umesh Kurmi, Mahesh Kurmi, nephew Kallu Kurmi, and brother Rameshwar Kurmi. Villagers have also accused Sub-Engineer BD Patel of collusion. Three-member team formed for investigation Khurai Janpad Panchayat’s in-charge CEO Meena Kashyap said that a complaint has been received. A three-member team has been formed for the investigation. Panchayat Inspector Ramlal Rohit, who is part of the team, said that the investigation will be completed soon, a decision will be taken, and the matter will be resolved. Employment Assistant said – All allegations are baseless Employment Assistant Naresh Kurmi called all the allegations baseless. Naresh says that the farm pond has been constructed, but there is a demarcation dispute. Material was given to Harprasad Ahirwar, while ₹12,000 has been sent to Munna Kurmi’s account for the toilet. He also said that he is aware of Kallu’s first two installments, on which work has been done. He does not have information about the third and fourth installments.