The Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched by the Mahayuti government in the run-up to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls. (Representative image)
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: In a shocking revelation, over 14,000 men have availed benefits under the BJP-led Maha Yuti government’s ambitious Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has called for a probe into the issue.
The benefits taken by over 14,000 men for nearly 10 months - from the scheme exclusively meant for women - amounts to a whopping Rs 21.44 crore.
The fraud has come to light during the verification process undertaken by the Maharashtra government.
Leading the MVA charge, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) said: “The politics of the Maha Yuti for 'beloved votes' has once again come to light. The exposure of fake beneficiaries after several months is the pinnacle of the system's inefficiency. The government is making efforts to disqualify eligible beloved sisters by applying one criterion after another.”
NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule held the Maha Yuti government responsible for implementation of the scheme "in a haste" just ahead of the Assembly elections.
State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the government and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that the money taken from the scheme in a wrong way would be recovered.
“However, if men have taken the money from women, a case should be registered and the money should also be recovered,” he said.