[India] First information report filed in DMC payroll fraud

In India, a first information report (FIR) has been filed over a significant payroll fraud in the Mohalla Swachhata Samitis (neighbourhood sanitation committees) of Dehradun Municipal Corporation, Garhwal Post reports. 

The FIR has been filed with the City Kotwali Dehradun. The payroll fraud took the form of a salary scam, which ran for five years, involved fake salary payments to 99 non-existent sanitation workers, causing a financial loss of nearly Rs 9 crore to the government. 

The complaint was reportedly filed by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Bhasin, following an investigation ordered by the then District Magistrate, Sonika.

The fraud was first exposed in January 2024 when the then Chief Development Officer (CDO) initiated an inquiry on the orders of then DM Sonika. The probe confirmed that between 2019 and 2023, salaries were withdrawn in the names of fake employees. 

In addition, it was revealed that several councillors had allegedly misused government funds by listing relatives, wives, and party workers as sanitation employees to claim salaries fraudulently.

The Municipal Corporation took action after the Uttarakhand High Court, on May 23, 2025, sought a response from the state government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Vikesh Negi. Following this, an FIR was lodged at the City Kotwali, and a criminal investigation was initiated. 

The case will reportedly examine the involvement of the presidents, secretaries, and treasurers of the sanitation committees. The next High Court hearing is scheduled for July 7, 2025, and police have begun examining financial records and official documents.

Source: Garhwal Post

In India, a first information report (FIR) has been filed over a significant payroll fraud in the Mohalla Swachhata Samitis (neighbourhood sanitation committees) of Dehradun Municipal Corporation, Garhwal Post reports. 

The FIR has been filed with the City Kotwali Dehradun. The payroll fraud took the form of a salary scam, which ran for five years, involved fake salary payments to 99 non-existent sanitation workers, causing a financial loss of nearly Rs 9 crore to the government. 

The complaint was reportedly filed by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Bhasin, following an investigation ordered by the then District Magistrate, Sonika.

The fraud was first exposed in January 2024 when the then Chief Development Officer (CDO) initiated an inquiry on the orders of then DM Sonika. The probe confirmed that between 2019 and 2023, salaries were withdrawn in the names of fake employees. 

In addition, it was revealed that several councillors had allegedly misused government funds by listing relatives, wives, and party workers as sanitation employees to claim salaries fraudulently.

The Municipal Corporation took action after the Uttarakhand High Court, on May 23, 2025, sought a response from the state government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Vikesh Negi. Following this, an FIR was lodged at the City Kotwali, and a criminal investigation was initiated. 

The case will reportedly examine the involvement of the presidents, secretaries, and treasurers of the sanitation committees. The next High Court hearing is scheduled for July 7, 2025, and police have begun examining financial records and official documents.

Source: Garhwal Post