89 Private Firms Booked for Defrauding EPFO of Rs 6 Crore

Pune: The Wanowrie police took action on Friday against 89 fictitious private firms following a complaint lodged by a 44-year-old enforcement officer from the Employees’ Provident Fund Office (EPFO). The complaint alleged that these 89 private firms swindled the EPFO of Rs 6 crore under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Rozgar scheme between December 30, 2020, and May 3, 2024.

According to the complainant, the central government had deposited Rs 18 crore in the EPFO for distribution to these 89 private firms. These firms had applied online, claiming benefits under the scheme for their employees by submitting forged documents to obtain funds.

Subsequently, the EPFO disbursed approximately Rs 6 crore to these firms with the intention that the funds would be distributed among their workers. However, during the verification process, EPFO officials discovered that the names and addresses used for registering under the scheme were fabricated, as they could not be traced.

A senior inspector stated on Saturday, “We have registered an FIR, and investigations are currently underway.”