India, March 28 -- The Nashik Rural Police have lodged an FIR against 181 persons in Bhadwan village, Kalwan tehsil, for allegedly fraudulently registering as beneficiaries of the PM Kisan Scheme. The accused collectively siphoned off Rs.2.98 lakh under the scheme between August 26, 2020, and November 3, 2022.

Minal Mhaske, agriculture officer, Kalwan tehsil, who lodged the FIR, said 181 individuals were found to have defrauded the government following a verification process. "We lodged an FIR against them with the Nashik police on March 26," she said.

The police have invoked IPC Sections 417 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for cheating), and Section 66D of the IT Act.

Kirankumar Suryavanshi, Kalwan sub-divisional police office...