Two farmers claim Rythu Bima insurance with fake death certificates in Medak

Following a tip-off, agriculture extension officer Bhargavi lodged a complaint against the two farmers, after which the Medak rural police registered a case and are investigating

Medak: Two farmers allegedly claimed the Rythu Bima life insurance benefit of Rs.5 lakh each at Guttakindi Pally village in Medak mandal after submitting fake death certificates.

The two farmers, Bitla Srinivas and Eliganti Mallesham, are interestingly, shown in the grama panchayat register as dead, with the dates of their demise too mentioned.  Since the panchayat secretary issued death certificates to both farmers, the police suspect the hand of the panchayat secretary also in the entire episode.

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Following a tip-off, agriculture extension officer Bhargavi lodged a complaint against the two farmers, after which the Medak rural police registered a case and are investigating.

When the police reached the village on Tuesday, the houses of both Srinivas and Mallesham were found locked, indicating that they had fled the village fearing action.

According to investigating officers and agriculture officials, a local leader allegedly lured Srinivas and Mallesham offering to get the Rythu Bima claim for them.

Since Srinivas and Mallesham were living outside their villages in 2021, the local leader enrolled their death dates in the panchayat register and the panchayat secretary issued the death certificates in May and September 2021.

When the agriculture officials visited the village for enquiry before releasing the Bima assistance, the local leader reportedly misled them and convinced them that the farmers had died.

Meanwhile, one of these farmer’s wives also claimed Rs.2 lakh from a bank using the same death certificate. The bank is also expected to file a case soon. The police were also verifying whether there were any more such claims in the village.