Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 5.37 crore in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Madhya Pradesh government's Marriage Assistance Scheme. The ED's Bhopal zonal office said on Friday that the properties belonged to Shobhit Tripathi, former chief executive officer of Sironj Janpad Panchayat, and his associate, Hemant Sahu. According to the agency, around Rs 30.18 crore was disbursed in 5,923 suspicious cases during Tripathi's tenure as CEO between 2019 and November 2021.

 

Under the scheme, registered construction workers from economically weaker sections were entitled to financial assistance of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of their daughters. Probe Based On EOW FIR: The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Bhopal. The FIR named Tripathi and others in connection with allegations of cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and offences under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Fake Applications Allegedly Used: During its investigation, the ED found alleged use of fake applications and documents belonging to ineligible beneficiaries to secure scheme payments.

 

According to the agency, bank accounts were opened using documents of some ineligible individuals without their knowledge. After the assistance amount was credited to these accounts, it was allegedly withdrawn in cash in multiple instalments. Payments During Covid Lockdown: The investigation also uncovered cases in which financial assistance was allegedly disbursed to ineligible beneficiaries during the Covid-19 lockdown, when public marriages were prohibited, the ED said. Former CEO In Judicial Custody: The agency said several documents were recovered during searches in connection with the case. Tripathi was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on September 2, 2026, and is currently in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.