BAGALKOT: A startling case of welfare fraud has rocked multiple Grama Panchayats in the district, where a man reportedly posed as a woman named ‘Mangalamma Aari’ wearing a saree to illegally claim wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The alleged impersonation took place in Chikanal Grama Panchayat, Ilakal Taluk, where the individual was photographed in female attire, falsely claiming to have participated in block plantation work. This image, intended as a proof of labour, was fraudulently uploaded to the NREGA portal for wage payments.

Shockingly, the same photograph was reused across multiple Grama Panchayats and even different taluks to claim payments for various unrelated jobs, including Anganwadi building constructions — a violation of MGNREGA norms, which prohibit usage of funds for public infrastructure not classified under approved rural works.

Fraudulent wage claims linked to this image have surfaced in:

  • Ganjihal Grama Panchayat – Anganwadi Building 3

  • Binjawadagi Grama Panchayat – Anganwadi Building 2

  • Ramwadagi Grama Panchayat – Anganwadi Building

  • Chinnapur ST village – ST Anganwadi Building

    • What makes this scam particularly concerning is that these villages fall under different taluks, violating the NREGA rule that limits job card-based employment to the worker’s own panchayat jurisdiction.

    Adding to the controversy, the Hungund Panchayat Raj Department is under fire for allegedly diverting MGNREGA workers for Anganwadi construction projects, which falls outside the scope of the scheme.

    Locals and social activists are calling for a high-level probe, alleging a systematic misuse of funds, fake records, and poor oversight by officials. The incident has reignited concerns about transparency and accountability in the implementation of rural welfare programs in Karnataka.