Around 50,000 government employees in Madhya Pradesh, almost 9% of the state’s workforce, haven’t received their salaries for over six months. No one knows exactly why, and this could be one of the biggest salary scams in the state’s history.

NDTV got hold of documents that show these employees are listed in official records. They have names and employee codes, but their salaries haven’t been processed since December 2024. The big questions now are: Are these people on unpaid leave? Are they suspended? Or do they not exist at all and are just fake or "ghost" employees?

The issue came to light through a letter dated May 23, sent by the Commissioner of Treasury and Accounts to all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs). The letter asked officials to look into the matter.The letter mentioned that the salary data for regular and non-regular employees hasn’t been updated in the IFMIS system, and even though employee codes exist, their details haven't been verified or officially marked as exited.

Now, over 6,000 officers are being investigated and were given 15 days to explain a possible ₹230 crore scam. That deadline ends today.Bhaskar Lakshkar, the Treasury Commissioner, told NDTV that no money has been taken yet, but they found this problem during a regular data check. He said the goal is to stop any fraud before it happens.

Now, the treasury department has asked all officers in charge (called DDOs) to check if any fake or unknown employee is working in their office. A finance official said there may be real reasons like transfers or suspensions, but not getting paid for six months without a reason is a serious warning sign.

Finance Minister’s reaction

When asked Finance Minister Jagdish Devda about the unpaid salaries, he seemed uncomfortable. He only said that the process was being followed “as per rules” and walked away without giving a proper answer.

What’s going on?

Out of the 50,000 employees, 40,000 are regular and 10,000 are temporary. If even some of them are fake, it could mean a big scam. People are asking: Who added these names? Can someone take salaries later for these fake jobs? How are offices working without 9% of staff?