ED Arrests Former Janpad Panchayat CEO in ₹30.18 Crore Marriage Assistance Scheme Fraud
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has arrested Shobhit Tripathi, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Janpad Panchayat, Sironj, Madhya Pradesh, in connection with an alleged money laundering case involving the fraudulent disbursement of government funds under the Marriage Assistance Scheme.
Tripathi was arrested on September 2, 2026, under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was produced before the Special Court (PMLA) in Bhopal on September 3, and the court granted the ED custody until September 9 for further investigation.
The ED launched its investigation based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal, against Tripathi and others.
The Marriage Assistance Scheme, introduced by the Madhya Pradesh government, provides financial assistance of ₹51,000 to eligible daughters of registered construction workers. According to the ED, Tripathi allegedly misused his position as CEO of Janpad Panchayat, Sironj, during his tenure from 2019 to November 2021, to approve and disburse approximately ₹30.18 crore in government funds linked to suspicious marriage assistance applications.
The investigation reportedly found that forged application forms and fabricated beneficiary documents were used to obtain scheme benefits illegally. The agency also alleged that funds were transferred into bank accounts opened or misused using false credentials and were subsequently withdrawn in multiple cash instalments.
The ED further found indications that financial assistance had been provided to ineligible beneficiaries. Some payments were also allegedly made during the COVID-19 lockdown, when public marriages were prohibited.
Earlier, on October 3, 2025, the ED conducted search operations in connection with the case and recovered and seized documents and digital devices believed to be relevant to the investigation.
The agency is continuing its probe into the alleged diversion of government funds and the money laundering activities linked to the scheme.
News Source : Directorate of Enforcement (ED) – Official Press Release, Government of India
