For more than six months, the salaries of 50,000 government workers—nearly 9% of Madhya Pradesh’s government workforce—have not been paid. It may be one of the largest wage scams in Madhya Pradesh’s history, but it is a mystery that is hidden deep in the state’s bureaucratic files.
According to documents accessed by the news agency, these employees are listed in official records. They are identifiable by their name and employee code, but for whatever reason, it has been almost six months since their salaries were processed. Do these workers have unpaid leave? Do they have a suspension? Or are they just ‘ghost’ workers?
A letter dated May 23 that was sent to all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) by the Commissioner of Treasury and Accounts (CTA) was obtained by the news agency. The letter is an appeal to look into a shocking irregularity. “The data of Regular / Non-Regular employees under IFMIS, whose salaries have not been drawn since December 2024, is enclosed… although employee codes exist, their verification is incomplete in IFMIS, and the Exit process hasn’t been done either.”
In response to the letter, more than 6,000 DDOs are being investigated and have been given 15 days to provide an explanation for the potential Rs 230 crore scam. Today is the last day of the timeline. “We conduct data analysis regularly and this discrepancy was observed. I further clarify unambiguously that its not that salary is being drawn against these accounts. This inquiry tries to curb the risk of probable embezzlement which may occur,” Commissioner of Treasury and Accounts Bhaskar Lakshkar told.
Every DDO has been ordered to confirm that no unauthorised employee is working in their office as part of the Treasury Department’s statewide verification operation. “There could be genuine cases – transfers, suspensions… But if someone hasn’t received salary for six months straight, and their exit isn’t processed either, that’s a red flag,” said a senior finance official.
The news agency approached Madhya Pradesh’s Finance Minister Jagdish Devda with the facts. When confronted with the question: “50,000 salaries not drawn for months. Why?” Mr Devda appeared visibly uncomfortable and said, “Well… whatever process is followed, it is done according to rules.” When asked again whether this could be a problem in the future, he repeated – “Whatever happens, will be according to rules… okay… fine.” And then, without another word, he walked back inside.
Ten thousand temporary workers and forty thousand regular workers make up the 50,000 unpaid employees. The total amount of their wages is Rs 230 crore. Suspicions of a massive fraud or ghost posts are rising since payments haven’t been paid for months. Where is the 230 crore rupees? There are serious concerns if even a small portion of these 50,000 are ghost workers: Who is tampering with the system? Is it possible to withdraw salaries without checks and backdate them? Has the government unwittingly created an environment that has allowed a Rs 230 crore scam to flourish?
Are the 50,000 roles still available? If so, how have departments been operating without 9% of their employees? As this hoax develops layer by layer, many questions still need to be addressed. The state treasury, however, may have avoided a significant financial risk by promptly identifying a possible disparity during a regular data audit. Verifying whether ghost employees are stealthily hiding in the system is the investigation’s straightforward but vital goal.
