Chhattisgarh Snakebite Compensation Scam: 19 Arrested Over Alleged ₹17 Crore Fraud Using Fake Snakebite Deaths and Forged Reports

21 July, 2026: Police in Chhattisgarh have arrested 19 people, including a government doctor, home guards, lawyers, bank officials, and government employees, for allegedly running a large-scale racket that forged official records to fraudulently claim compensation meant for snakebite victims.

Investigators have so far confirmed 16 fraudulent compensation claims worth at least ₹64 lakh, but believe the overall fraud could exceed ₹17 crore as they examine more than 400 suspicious cases across Bilaspur district.

According to Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajnesh Singh, the alleged racket operated between November 2019 and February 2024, fabricating medical and government records to falsely show deaths caused by suicide, heart attacks, illnesses, and other reasons as snakebite fatalities. The forged documents were then used to obtain compensation under Revenue Book Circular (RBC) 6-4, a state relief scheme that provides financial assistance to families of snakebite victims.

Acording to TOI, investigators allege the racket manipulated multiple stages of the compensation process by forging post-mortem reports, inquest (panchnama) reports, police records, revenue documents, and other official paperwork required for compensation claims.

Police said members of the network identified deaths that could be exploited, created or altered official records to establish snakebite as the cause of death, and submitted the fabricated documents before revenue authorities to secure government compensation of ₹4 lakh per case.

Officials believe the alleged fraud succeeded because individuals from multiple departments allegedly worked together to validate and process the forged records.

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Police have arrested 19 people in connection with the case so far.

The accused include:

• A government doctor

• Two home guards

• Lawyers

• Bank officials

• Revenue department employees

• Clerks

• Other alleged facilitators involved in preparing and processing fraudulent compensation claims

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests have not been ruled out.

Among those arrested is Dr. Priyanka Soni, a government doctor posted at the district hospital in Bilaspur.

Police allege she issued or authenticated forged post-mortem reports that falsely identified snakebite as the cause of death in cases where victims had actually died due to other causes. Investigators claim these reports formed a key part of the documentation used to obtain government compensation fraudulently.

The investigation has uncovered several cases in which deaths from unrelated causes were allegedly reclassified as snakebite fatalities.

According to police, some compensation claims involved victims who had died by suicide, while others involved deaths caused by heart attacks or other medical conditions. Investigators also found instances where existing panchnama numbers were reused to prepare forged post-mortem reports supporting false compensation claims.

Police allege the forged records enabled accused persons to claim government relief that would otherwise not have been sanctioned.

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Investigators have so far registered 16 FIRs across multiple police stations, including Sarkanda, Civil Lines, Koni, City Kotwali, Sirgitti, and Torwa.

While authorities have confirmed fraudulent compensation claims worth at least ₹64 lakh in 16 cases, they are now scrutinising more than 400 snakebite compensation files that showed suspicious patterns.

Police estimate the alleged fraud could exceed ₹17 crore if additional fraudulent claims are confirmed.

The investigation began after authorities noticed irregularities in snakebite compensation records and referred the matter for further inquiry.

During the probe, investigators allegedly uncovered forged post-mortem reports, manipulated police and revenue records, fabricated medical documents, and falsified paperwork used to secure compensation under the state's relief scheme.

Officials believe the network remained active for several years by exploiting gaps in document verification and involving individuals responsible for preparing, certifying, and processing official records.

Police said the confirmed fraudulent claims represent only the cases verified during the initial phase of the investigation.

Authorities are continuing to examine hundreds of additional compensation files to determine the full extent of the alleged scam and identify others who may have been involved. Officials have indicated that further arrests are possible as the investigation progresses.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)