AEO Dupes Unsuspecting Farmers, Pockets RB Money

Warangal: An agriculture extension officer (AEO), taking advantage of the simplicity and illiteracy of beneficiaries, transferred lakhs of rupees of Rythu Bima scheme into his own account at Gundratimadugu village of Kuravi mandal in Mahabubabad district.

The incident came to light when the victims realized that the money which was deposited by the state government under the Rythu Bima scheme was transferred by the AEO to his own account by taking signatures from them.

Ketham Venkata Mallamma, one of the victims, said after the death of her son Ketham Lakshman she applied for Rythu Bima scheme. AEO Banoth Kalyan, who visited their house, informed them that the government sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the Rythu Bima scheme and she needed to do some procedures. Taking her to the office, Kalyan took signature on the cheque and transferred the money into his own account.

Banoth Irani, another illiterate woman, applied for Rythu Bima scheme after the death of her husband in June. The government sanctioned Rs 5 lakh and deposited it in the bank account of Irani in October. Taking advantage of her illiteracy and innocence, Banoth Kalyan took her signature on a cheque and transferred the money into his own account.

After a few days when Irani went to the bank and inquired about the amount, she was shocked to know that the money was transferred into the bank account of Kalyan. When she along with her family members confronted the AEO, the latter promised them that he will give the money back within a week and gave a cheque to them. The family later lodged a complaint with police when the cheque bounced.

Shaik Maibu, another victim, applied for Rythu Bima after the death of her husband. AEO Kalyan visited the house of Maibu and told her that the government had sanctioned money under the scheme and after taking some signatures from her, he would transfer Rs 3 lakh through NEFT to her bank account. Maibu urged officials of the department to help her get Rs 3 lakh from the AEO.

District agriculture officer M. Viaya Nirmala told Deccan Chronicle that the amounts under Rythu Bima scheme were deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries’ family. But it was learnt that AEO Banoth Kalyan transferred the money into his own account.

An inquiry was ordered into the matter, action will be taken against the AEO after the report is submitted, she added.