Fake 'Sunny Leone' gets Rs 1,000 monthly in Chhattisgarh under govt scheme for married women. Here's how

A man in Chhattisgarh allegedly defrauded a Chhattisgarh state scheme for married women by opening an account in the name of actress Sunny Leone. Virendra Joshi is accused of receiving Rs 1,000 monthly deposits intended for beneficiaries of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana. This scheme, implemented by the BJP government, provides Rs 1,000 per month to married women in the state. The fraud was discovered in Talur village, Bastar district.

District Collector Haris S has ordered an investigation and the seizure of the bank account. Officials stated that media reports brought the fraud to light.

The incident triggered a political clash between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. State Congress chief Deepak Baij claimed, "over 50 per cent of beneficiaries under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana are fake."


Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said that the Congress is upset because women are now receiving assistance they didn't receive during the Congress's previous term. Meanwhile, the Women and Child Development Department said that it will conduct a thorough investigation, and officials involved in beneficiary verification are being identified.

All about Chhattisgarh's Mahtari Vandana Yojana

Under Chhattisgarh's Mahtari Vandan Yojana eligible married women are give financial assistance of Rs. 1000 per month. It is mandatory for the woman to have her own bank account. Joint account will not be valid under the scheme. You will need to have an Aadhaar card as well as a mobile number registered in bank account. Aadhaar should be linked and DBT should be activated in the woman’s own bank account to avail the scheme benefits.

As per the govt the objective of the scheme is to "maintain self-reliance of women and sustainable improvement in the health and nutritional status of their dependent children", and to make "women more financially independent", and to "encourgae women's effective role in decision making at the family level".