RAIPUR: A man in Chhattisgarh fraudulently registered Bollywood actress Sunny Leone as a beneficiary under a government scheme. This act misused a program meant for economically weaker married women, offering Rs 1,000 monthly. The scheme, aimed at empowering women, became a target of deceit.
Fraudulent Registration Uncovered
Officials discovered Sunny Leone’s name listed as a recipient under the welfare program. Her “husband” was falsely recorded as Johnny Sins, an adult film star. The scheme, implemented in Bastar district, has distributed payments under this account since March 2024.
The anomaly came to light when a formal complaint raised questions about improper fund transfers. Officials initiated an investigation and identified the perpetrator behind the scam.
Actor Responds, Condemns Fraud
Reacting to the incident, Sunny Leone called the fraud “unfortunate” and expressed concern over the misuse of a program designed to support women. On her Instagram story, Sunny said, “It’s disheartening that my name was fraudulently used for a welfare scheme. I condemn this and support the investigation fully.”
She added that actions like these undermined genuine beneficiaries and distorted the scheme’s purpose.
Culprit Identified and Action Taken
Investigations revealed that Virendra Joshi, a Bastar resident, forged documents using Sunny Leone’s name to open a fraudulent account. The government deposited funds into this account from March to December. Officials have taken steps to recover the stolen money.
Joshi’s account has been frozen, and disciplinary actions are under process. Authorities have also filed charges for forgery and fraud under applicable laws. The district collector recommended recovery measures and penal actions against officials responsible for the lapse.
Broader Implications of the Case
This incident sheds light on vulnerabilities in welfare distribution systems and emphasizes the need for stringent checks. Authorities aim to rectify such oversights and ensure safeguards for genuine beneficiaries.
By exposing this fraud, the government seeks to highlight its commitment to holding offenders accountable and ensuring no misuse of welfare funds.
With disciplinary action underway, officials stress the importance of restoring public trust in welfare initiatives while deterring future scams. This serves as a cautionary tale, calling for better verification and transparency mechanisms across welfare schemes.
