Government officials in Chhattisgarh uncovered a shocking case of fraud involving a welfare scheme for economically disadvantaged married women. In an unexpected twist, the “beneficiary” was listed as actress Sunny Leone, with her husband recorded as adult film star Johnny Sins. Upon investigation, it was revealed that a man from Bastar, Virendra Joshi, forged documents to claim benefits under the Mahatari Vandan Scheme, which provides a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 to eligible women.
The anomaly came to light when officials discovered that Joshi had fraudulently registered using the details of an Anganwadi worker, Vedmati Joshi. He had been receiving payments since March 2024 and transferring the funds into his personal account. Following the discovery, the Bastar Collector ordered the freezing of the fraudulent bank accounts, recovery of funds, and a police complaint against those involved.
Disciplinary action has also been recommended against Vedmati Joshi and her supervisor for oversight lapses. The Mahatari Vandan Scheme, launched in 2024, aims to support financially disadvantaged women aged 21 and above, including married, widowed, divorced, and abandoned women. The eligibility criteria require beneficiaries to belong to households below the poverty line and exclude those with immediate family members in government jobs.