The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 7 locations in Bhopal, Vidisha, Katni and Chhatarpur districts on Friday (October 3, 2025), revealing a major fraud in Madhya Pradesh. This action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This investigation started against Shobhit Tripathi, who was the CEO of the district panchayat Sironj at that time. The ED has freeze many important documents, property papers, digital devices, bank accounts and mutual funds in the raids, freezing around 21.7 lakhs.
Fake game of fraud from 2019 to November 2021
ED took this action on the basis of FIR of Economic Offenses Branch (EOW), Bhopal. EOW investigation revealed that Shobhit Tripathi along with his colleagues scam a scam of about 30.18 crores in the wedding assistance scheme. This forgery took place between 2019 and November 2021.
What happened in ED investigation,
It was shown in the government records that 5,923 people got married and they were given money under the scheme, but during investigation it was found that most of these marriages were fake. ED investigation has revealed that Shobhit Tripathi created this whole game with two data entry operators Yogendra Sharma and Hemant Sahu. Fake documents were uploaded on the government portal and with their help, the amount was transferred from the government treasury to the accounts of those who were not entitled to it. After this, these money were withdrawn from ATMs in different installments and then Shobhit Tripathi was deposited in the accounts of his family and close ones.
Investigation also revealed that Shobhit Tripathi used his relatives and their business accounts to clear the money earned by the scam. This amount was spent in buying stock market, mutual funds and property so that the money would seem valid. The ED has said that investigation is still going on in the case and more big revelations can be made in the coming days.
Also read: The Supreme Court sought information about the people released from the final list in Bihar SIR, asked the petitioner- ‘Why are the real people not coming forward?’