Man Registers Sunny Leone’s Name for Chhattisgarh Scheme, Gets Rs 1,000 Monthly
Chhattisgarh, India – In a bizarre turn of events, Chhattisgarh officials discovered an unusual beneficiary under a government welfare scheme meant for economically weaker married women. The beneficiary was none other than “Sunny Leone,” with records also listing her “husband” as Johnny Sins, a film star.
A probe revealed that a man from Bastar, Virendra Joshi, had fraudulently registered the Bollywood actor’s name to exploit the benefits of the Mahatari Vandan Scheme, which provides Rs 1,000 per month to eligible women.
Fraudulent Scheme Unveiled
The Mahatari Vandan Scheme, launched in 2024, is designed to support economically weaker women, including those who are married, widowed, divorced, or abandoned. The eligibility criteria require beneficiaries to belong to families below the poverty line and exclude those with immediate family members employed in government jobs.
Virendra Joshi used forged documents belonging to an Anganwadi worker, Vedmati Joshi, to create a fake account under Sunny Leone’s name. He then redirected the funds from the fraudulent account into his own. Officials reported that Joshi had been receiving monthly payments since March 2024.
Swift Action by Authorities
Bastar Collector Haris S ordered a thorough investigation after the anomaly came to light. The Women and Child Development Department was directed to freeze the fraudulent bank account, recover the misappropriated funds, and file an FIR against those involved.
Additionally, disciplinary action has been recommended against Vedmati Joshi and her supervisor for their roles in the lapse that allowed the fraud to occur.
Crackdown on Misuse of Government Schemes
Officials emphasized the importance of stringent checks to prevent misuse of government welfare programs. “We are committed to taking action against those who attempt to exploit the system,” an official said.
The case serves as a reminder of the need for robust monitoring and accountability in the implementation of welfare schemes to ensure benefits reach the intended recipients.
