Welfare board scam: 1,495 fraudsters siphon off crores

As many as 1,495 fraudsters siphoned off funds from the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (HPBOCW) by submitting fake documents during the previous BJP regime, potentially costing the exchequer crores of rupees, pending final scrutiny.

Board chairman Nardev Kanwar, addressing the media on Monday, alleged that the scam was not possible without the connivance of those managing the board’s affairs. He claimed the benefits were deliberately extended to ineligible individuals for political gains, with the bulk of the disbursements made in the election years 2021 and 2022.

Official figures reveal that in the 2021-22 fiscal, Rs 92.33 crore was distributed to 40,696 beneficiaries. In the nine months preceding the election announcement, Rs 79.27 crore went to 32,014 beneficiaries — a total of Rs 171.61 crore.

Kanwar said the irregularities came to light after board teams conducted physical verification in villages. In just two days, 38 ineligible beneficiaries were detected in one district, with the highest number found in Barsar constituency, home to the board’s former chairman.

The board has begun filing FIRs against those who obtained benefits using forged documents. Kanwar warned that presenting fake documents could lead to up to 10 years’ imprisonment and heavy penalties. Two individuals have already refunded the illicit funds and more are expected to come forward.

District-wise, the defaulters include 300 in Hamirpur, 295 in Una, 232 in Sirmaur, 146 in Solan, 134 in Mandi, 132 in Kangra, 89 in Bilaspur, 69 in Rampur, 37 in Chamba, 26 in Kullu, 22 in Shimla and nine in Kinnaur. “The investigation will continue until every single fraudster is booked,” Kanwar asserted.