Subsequently, a police complaint was lodged Aug 14 in the Kotwali police station of Sitapur against 5,055 people, including government officials, village heads and those withdrawing pension on the basis of forged documents.

Y.K. Rai, the social welfare officer of the district, lodged a complaint under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record).

In Sitapur, besides gram pradhans and officials of the social welfare department, those named in the FIR also include bank officials and doctors who helped the 'beneficiaries' by providing fake certificates and documents to open bank accounts to get the payment.

Similar revelations, according to SWD officials, are likely to be made very soon in other central government schemes like the rural jobs scheme and the midday meal.

-Indo-Asian News Service

rr/pg/jg