New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday said an FIR was registered against the assistant development officer of the Social Welfare department and eight beneficiaries on charges of fraud in the Chief Minister's Mass Marriage Scheme, reported news agency PTI.
According to the police, many people, who were already married, were married again in the mass marriage programme held at Maniyar Inter College on January 25.
The Chief Minister's Mass Marriage Scheme is a social welfare initiative that facilitates the marriage of young men and women from economically disadvantaged families.
Maniyar SHO Mantosh Singh on Wednesday said that an FIR was registered against Assistant Development Officer Sunil Kumar Yadav and eight beneficiaries, including Archana, Ranjana Yadav, Suman Chauhan, Priyanka, Sonam, Pooja, Sanju and Ramita, reported PTI.
District Social Welfare Officer Deepak Srivastava, who filed the complaint, said that after the mass marriage was conducted under this scheme, it came to the fore that brides and grooms, who were already married were being married again.
A probe committee under the chief development officer was constituted in the matter on January 29.
It was found during the probe that ineligible applicants had applied illegally to get benefits under the scheme by hiding the actual facts, the report stated.
District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said that the funds have not yet been distributed to the beneficiaries of the mass marriage programme.
So far, a case has been registered against the assistant development officer and eight beneficiaries found guilty in the investigation, Kumar said. Action will be taken against anyone else found guilty, he added, reported PTI.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has called for a thorough investigation into the matter, alleging corruption within the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). He posted on X in hindi, and expressed concern over the emotional impact on the lives of the young women involved.
Under this scheme, a payment of Rs 51,000 is made of which Rs 35,000 goes to the girl, Rs 10,000 for purchasing matrimonial materials and Rs 6,000 for the event, according to the government website.