The Congress has demanded the dismissal of Gujarat Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture, Bachubhai Khabad, over his alleged involvement in a multi-crore scam under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party also called for a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter.
Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Wednesday, former Gujarat Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil said that the minister must be sacked immediately as the allegations against him were serious and substantiated.&nbsp;
He stated that a well-planned conspiracy was hatched to loot MGNREGA funds meant for rural poor labourers by repeatedly issuing work orders and claiming money multiple times for the same piece of land.
Gohil alleged that different kinds of projects were shown as being undertaken on the same land owned by the minister, including the construction of a flood drain, storm wall, dam, well, land levelling, and forest creation through tree plantation.&nbsp;
He further claimed that the material used in these projects was supplied by Raj Constructions, a firm owned by the minister&rsquo;s son, Balwant Khabad.
He said, &ldquo;Most of the MGNREGA funds are earmarked for labour wages to ensure rural employment, while only a small portion is allocated for materials, which must be procured from the lowest bidder. In this case, the contract was awarded to the minister&rsquo;s son even though he was not the lowest bidder.&rdquo;
According to Gohil, Raj Constructions failed to pay the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the materials it supplied. Despite these revelations, he noted, the minister had not been dismissed. &ldquo;As long as the minister remains in office, no one can expect justice,&rdquo; Gohil remarked, demanding that the Gujarat Police step aside and a court-monitored CBI investigation be launched.
He also expressed grief over the recent Gambhira bridge collapse in Gujarat, which claimed at least 13 lives as of now. He attributed the incident to systemic corruption under the BJP-led state government. &ldquo;People had already complained that the bridge would shake, but the authorities ignored them,&rdquo; he said.
Gohil revealed that the bridge had undergone repairs previously and demanded an investigation into how it collapsed despite large sums being spent on its maintenance.
Last week, senior Congress MLA Amit Chavda led a delegation to meet Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat to raise concerns over alleged corruption involving state ministers and officials. Chavda accused the BJP administration of protecting those implicated in financial misconduct, including Minister Khabad.
Chavda said Khabad&rsquo;s sons, Balvant and Kiran Khabad, were arrested in connection with a Rs 71 crore MGNREGA scam in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of Dahod district, spanning April 2021 to December 2024.&nbsp;
He stated that forged documents and geotagged images were used to claim payments for incomplete or non-existent works. Firms operated by the Khabad brothers&mdash;Shri Raj Construction and Shri Raj Traders&mdash;allegedly received over Rs 30 crore in payments without having official vendor status.
&ldquo;Why has [Bachubhai] Khabad not been removed from his ministerial position? Why is the BJP government protecting him?&rdquo; Chavda questioned. He demanded the minister&rsquo;s dismissal and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into MGNREGA and Nal Se Jal Yojana projects implemented in the last two years.
He added, &ldquo;The BJP government and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel are shielding the accused instead of ensuring justice. We are calling for an independent probe and strict action against all individuals involved, regardless of political affiliation.&rdquo;
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From Left: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, RS MP Shaktisinh Gohil, and Min Bachubhai Khabad

Congress demands CBI probe into MGNREGA scam, alleges minister's family misused public funds.

Congress Seeks Sacking of Gujarat Minister in MGNREGA Scam

Congress demands CBI probe into MGNREGA scam, alleges minister's family misused public funds.

July 9, 2025 | 20:55 IST