Nagpur: A major financial fraud involving crore of rupees has come to light at Bokhara Gram Panchayat in the Koradi police station limits. Four employees, who served in various clerical roles at the Panchayat between 2018 and January 31, 2025, have been booked for allegedly misappropriating government funds through fake receipts and manipulated records.

The individuals facing charges include:

1. Sanjay Ramaji Wankhede (50), Clerk, Water Supply

2. Nitin Mahadevrao Waghdhare (40), Clerk

3. Mukesh Ramesh Bighane (32), Clerk

4. Aniket Arun Kudawale, Clerk

Modus Operandi of the Fraud

The accused allegedly colluded to siphon off funds through fraudulent means:

• Fake tax receipts: Misappropriated ₹40,36,085 through fabricated documents.

• Cashbook & passbook discrepancies: ₹9 lakh discrepancy found in recorded deposits.

• Bogus vouchers: Without obtaining approval from competent authorities, ₹1.02 crore was withdrawn using forged vouchers.

• Manipulated property records:Tampered with records to erase old tax dues and alter property areas in the official registry.

• Annual report fraud:Adjusted data to conceal financial irregularities.

Initial estimates suggest a government loss of ₹10-12 crore due to these fraudulent activities.

Following a complaint from Gram Panchayat Officer Sunil Vijaykumar Joshi (53), a resident of Hudkeshwar, Nagpur, Koradi police have booked the accused under sections 318(4), 316(5), 338, 336(3), 340(2), and 61(2) of the IPC.