21 officials suspended over ₹40-crore ‘farm scam’ in Maharashtra 

Twenty-one government officials in Maharashtra’s Jalna district have been suspended for allegedly embezzling ₹40 crore meant for farmers affected by climate disasters like drought and heavy rains.

Following a five-month probe, 10 village revenue officers (talathis) were suspended on June 13. Another 11 officials were suspended Thursday, said Additional District Magistrate Ganesh Mahadik.

The scam was uncovered in Ambad and Ghansawangi tehsils, which received ₹80 crore under 10 government resolutions passed between 2020 and 2025. “Of this, ₹40 crore was misappropriated,” said Mr. Mahadik.

Investigators found false beneficiaries listed on the government’s E-Panchnama Payment Disbursement portal, including friends and relatives of accused officials. “Some were from outside the village; some land areas were inflated or falsely shown as private,” Mr. Mahadik said.

A team led by Deputy Collector Manisha Dandage inspected records of 2.5 lakh farmers and found most genuine farmers received nothing. The investigation is ongoing, with 35 more talathis under scrutiny.