Following the discovery, the district authorities have lodged a complaint with the Panshila police station of Limdi taluka against three persons for falsification of accounts and criminal breach of trust. The three are at large.

The complaint was lodged by the Deputy Mamalatdar (MDM), K M Sanghvi. In her complaint, Sanghvi has named Bhatur Devthala, Hematdan Gadhvi and Nitin Patadiya as accused.

The three were administrators of the MDM in a primary school of Nani Kathhechi village of Limdi Taluka in Surendranagar district.

I R Vala, Mamalatdar of Limdi taluka, said the trio had falsified the accounts of the number of students to take advantage of the scheme and get excess ration from the government, causing a loss worth Rs 4.73 lakh.

“When we checked, the accused told us that there are 1.04 lakhs students for the MDM. But only 14,000 students benefited from the scheme. We then decided to lodge the police complaint. It is now being investigated as to where the excess ration was used,” said Vala.

He further said that the main accused in the case, Bhatur Devthala, had masterminded the scam along with the other two accused.

“Earlier, Devthala was handling the MDM in the school. He later resigned from his post and was replaced by the other two accused. But they operated under the guidance of Devthala. So, they have also been named as accused in the complaint,” he added.