Devipur Desilting Scam: Lakhs Released for ‘Ghost Work’ as BDO Claims Ignorance, JE Contradicts, Gram Sevak ignores calls

People Allege Massive Financial Bungling Under MGNREGA; Inquiry Demanded as Officials Pass the Buck, Rivers Bleed, and Public Trust Erodes in Rural Development Department

• A major financial scam is brewing in Devipur Panchayat, where locals allege that lakhs of rupees have been released to contractors for desilting canals and irrigational sub-distributaries under MGNREGA, despite no work being done on the ground.
• The BDO, when confronted by Jammu Jottings, claimed ignorance, stating he had “just joined,” while the concerned JE contradicted him, confirming the BDO had visited the sites and that some payments had already been released.
• The Gram Sevak’s repeated unavailability and the conflicting statements from officials, coupled with the Sarpanch’s categorical denial of any desilting work, strongly point towards massive bungling and a systemic cover-up, demanding an immediate and thorough investigation to bring culprits to justice.

By Mohit Mehra

Jammu, October 18, 2025: A massive financial scam, estimated to involve lakhs of rupees, has allegedly come to light in Devipur Panchayat, where local residents are up in arms, accusing the Rural Development Department of colluding with contractors to release payments for “ghost work” under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The alleged fraud pertains to the desilting of crucial irrigational sub-distributaries and minors, which locals emphatically state was never done on the ground, even as official records allegedly show funds disbursed for the imaginary work. This blatant discrepancy has ignited public outrage and points towards a deeper, systemic corruption that demands an immediate, high-level investigation.

Residents of Devipur, frustrated by the unaddressed grievance, approached Jammu Jottings with their concerns, providing photographic evidence that purportedly shows no desilting activity. “No desilting was done on the ground, but on papers, payments worth lakhs were released for imaginary work,” alleged a local, demanding that this huge scam be exposed. Sarpanch of Devipur Panchayat has categorically stated that no desilting work was carried out in the area. This unified voice from the ground stands in stark contrast to the official disbursements.

When Jammu Jottings telephoned the Block Development Officer (BDO) responsible for the area, his response only deepened the mystery. The BDO claimed he had “just joined a month back and does not know anything” about the actual issue, attempting to distance himself from the alleged fraud. However, this claim was directly contradicted by the concerned Junior Engineer (JE). The JE, when contacted, confirmed that the BDO had, in fact, “visited the sites also.” The JE further admitted that “some payments were released” but, now facing scrutiny, assured that “no payment will be released now till facts come to fore.” This conflicting narrative between the BDO and the JE, both from the same department, highlights either a severe lack of communication or, more worryingly, a deliberate attempt to pass the buck and obscure the truth.

Adding another layer of suspicion, the Gram Sevak for Devipur Panchayat has become untraceable, failing to respond to repeated calls from Jammu Jottings. Despite an assurance from the BDO that he would get the Gram Sevak to respond, no call was received. The consistent unavailability of a key ground-level official like the Gram Sevak, whose responsibility it is to oversee MGNREGA works, raises serious questions about his role and potential complicity in the alleged bungling.

The discrepancy between official payments and the absence of work on the ground has fuelled widespread public dissatisfaction. Locals are questioning how such a massive financial irregularity could occur in works meant for community benefit, especially when rivers in the region are constantly silting up and causing ecological harm. The alleged scam, if proven, not only defrauds the public exchequer but also leaves vital irrigation infrastructure in a state of disrepair, directly impacting farmers and local livelihoods.

Citizens are now demanding a thorough investigation into this suspected multi-crore scam. “This points towards a larger scam in the offing which needs thorough investigation, and culprits, if any, must be booked and brought to justice,” stated a concerned citizen. The conflicting statements from officials, the elusive Gram Sevak, and the stark reality of undone work on the ground all strongly suggest that “something fishy” is indeed happening in Devipur Panchayat. The people of the area are now watching to see if the administration will genuinely act to expose this alleged corruption or if the perpetrators will continue to operate with impunity, protected by a veil of bureaucratic inaction.