Scam Unveiled: Former Beed Collector Arrested

Avinash Pathak, former Beed district collector in Maharashtra, was arrested over a Rs 241 crore land acquisition scam. Accused of issuing fraudulent compensation orders, Pathak's name and forged signature appeared on documents linked to fabricated cases. He's charged with multiple offenses, including forgery and breach of trust.

The Beed police on Thursday arrested Avinash Pathak, the former Collector of Maharashtra's Beed district, in connection with a massive land acquisition scam involving Rs 241 crore. Pathak, a seasoned IAS officer from the 2013 batch, was apprehended in Latur by a Special Investigation Team early the same day.

Investigations reveal that fraudulent compensation orders were processed using Pathak's identity, even after his transfer from Beed. A case has been registered against ten individuals, including Pathak, at Shivajinagar police station in Beed for their involvement in the scam. It is alleged that Pathak's name and forged signature were used to authorize fake land compensation orders during his tenure.

The scam details, emerging from a preliminary investigation conducted by a special committee, highlight 154 fraudulent cases from March 1, 2025, to April 17, 2025, with enhanced compensations totaling Rs 241.62 crore. Pathak faces multiple charges including forgery and breach of trust under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. His arrest was facilitated by Latur police with guidance from Assistant Superintendent of Police Venkataraman (IPS).