From KBC fame to jail: MP tehsildar arrested in ₹2.5 crore flood relief scam

A woman tehsildar from Madhya Pradesh, who once grabbed national attention after winning ₹50 lakh on the TV quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, has now been arrested in connection with an alleged ₹2.5 crore fraud linked to flood relief funds, officials said on Friday.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in 2021 in Sheopur district’s Baroda tehsil, where relief money meant for flood victims was reportedly diverted into fake bank accounts. Investigators say the scam has widened over time, with dozens of officials already under the scanner.

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According to officials, Amita Singh Tomar was taken into custody on Thursday from her residence in Chandravadni Naka area of Gwalior. She had been serving as tehsildar in Vijaypur but was removed from the post a day before her arrest by Collector Arpit Verma. She was later produced in court and sent to jail in neighbouring Shivpuri.

A police team led by Baroda SDOP Avneet Sharma carried out the arrest after tracing her location. Officials said Tomar had remained absent from duty for some time before being located.

Over 100 named, multiple arrests in widening probe

Police said the alleged fraud involves around ₹2.5 crore being transferred into bogus accounts. So far, 22 patwaris and one tehsildar have been arrested in the case.

More than 100 individuals have been named in the FIR. The investigation is being handled by the SDOP of Baroda tehsil in Sheopur district.

Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Agarwal said Tomar had earlier approached both the high court and the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail, but her pleas were rejected.

Tomar had earlier become widely known after winning ₹50 lakh on Kaun Banega Crorepati.