Home » Hamid Alam Arrested in Rs71 Cr NREGA Scam in Dahod

Hamid Alam Arrested in Rs71 Cr NREGA Scam in Dahod

Key official linked to scam involving fake work allocations

by Ananya Mehta

Dahod police have arrested Hamid Alam, a key official linked to the Rs71 crore NREGA scam that has rocked Gujarat’s Dahod district. Alam allegedly played a major role in facilitating fund allocations for irregular and fraudulent rural development works.

Employed on a contractual basis, Alam served as a work manager at the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and also acted as the in-charge deputy district programme coordinator. At the time of his arrest, he was posted with the Swachh Bharat Mission.

According to police sources, Alam ensured that funds were allocated for projects introduced by other accused individuals, many of which turned out to be fake or non-compliant. While earlier arrests included officials responsible for clearing payment bills and monitoring fieldwork, Alam’s involvement adds a deeper administrative layer to the case.

The scam surfaced after a DRDA inquiry revealed that payments were made to supply agencies that hadn’t won the official tenders for NREGA work materials. Some of these agencies were operated by Balwant and Kiran Khabad, sons of Gujarat’s Minister of State for Panchayats, Bachu Khabad.

Authorities have estimated the scam at Rs71 crore. Sixteen people have been arrested so far, including the Khabad brothers. Additionally, two more offences involving NREGA irregularities in nearby villages have been registered, with the Khabad brothers and several others facing charges in those cases as well.

Police had requested a 14-day remand for Alam, but the court granted only four days for interrogation.

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