Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami’s family has landed in legal trouble after his sister, her mother-in-law, and several relatives were allegedly involved in a fraudulent scheme related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). As per reports from PTI, a district-level investigation has revealed their involvement in misappropriation of government funds.

Village Head At The Center Of The Controversy

The key figure in the alleged scam is Gule Ayesha, the mother-in-law of Shami’s sister, who currently serves as the village head of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. District Magistrate (DM) Nidhi Gupta Vats confirmed that an initial inquiry validated the allegations, leading to official action. Authorities have now ordered the suspension of all implicated MNREGA workers, along with the filing of a formal police complaint and departmental proceedings under the Panchayati Raj Act.

Fraudulent Payments Uncovered

Investigations found that false job card entries were posted on MNREGA in January 2021, enabling some people to draw normal wages for work they did not carry out. It is said that the illegal payments continued until August 2024-25. Following this, officials ordered the freezing of Gram Pradhan’s accounts and began making attempts to recover the misappropriated amounts. The investigation was initiated after recent media reports revealed the fraudulent payments.

Officials Under Investigation

Initial reports suggest that several government officials, such as the Village Development Officer (VDO), Assistant Programme Officer (APO), and computer operators, could have joined hands with the Gram Pradhan in carrying out the scam. A thorough probe is ongoing to reveal more information.

“The investigation by local officials revealed that 18 individuals received MNREGA wages without performing any work. Among those implicated include Mohammed Shami’s sister Shabina, Shabina’s husband Ghaznavi, Shabina’s three brothers-in-law Aamir Suhail, Nasruddin and Shekhu, along with sons and daughters of village head Gule Ayesha,” informed the DM.

Shami Continues IPL 2025 Campaign Amid Controversy

In spite of the crisis within his family, Mohammed Shami is fulfilling his cricketing responsibilities. He is playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the current season of the IPL 2025. Shami recently made a solid return to international cricket during the home series against England after a long layoff due to injury. He was also key to India’s ICC Champions Trophy win, the team’s first title triumph in 12 years.

The officials are still pursuing the case, and updates should follow soon.