Fraudster opens online account in Sunny Leone’s name, gets Rs 1,000 monthly under govt scheme

When contacted, Bastar collector Haris S said, “We are looking into the matter.” A senior police official from Bastar said that action will be taken if any complaint is received from the district administration.

The file under the name of Sunny Leone mentions “verified” by the Anganwadi and another supervisor. (Image: X)

An alleged fraudster in Chhattisgarh has opened an online account in the name of actress Sunny Leone and has managed to receive Rs 1,000 — an amount disbursed monthly to married women in the state under the government’s Mahatari Vandan Yojana. The scheme is a major manifesto promise made by the ruling BJP, aimed at women empowerment. The Bastar district administration is looking into the matter.

The Indian Express checked the Mahatari Vandan Yojana website where one can check details of a beneficiary by entering a unique code given to every beneficiary of the scheme. Once the code and captcha are entered, one can download a PDF file and check how much money the beneficiary has received so far.

The file shows the name of the beneficiary as Sunny Leone and husband’s name as Jonny Sins. The application was received at Anganwadi level in Talur sector of Bastar district. The file mentions “verified” by the Anganwadi and another supervisor. It also states that the person has received the beneficiary amount for ten months — March to December.

When contacted, Bastar collector Haris S said, “We are looking into the matter.” A senior police official from Bastar said that action will be taken if any complaint is received from the district administration.

On December 4, the government released a total of Rs 652.04 crore as the tenth instalment of the scheme to 70 lakh married women in the state. Till date, over Rs 5,000 crore has been sent to the bank accounts of 70 lakh women under the scheme.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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