Following the arrest of the sons of BJP minister Bachubhai Khabad, the police on Friday arrested state Congress vice-president and OBC leader Hirabhai Jotva and his sarpanch son Digvijay in connection with the alleged Rs 7.3 crore MGNREGA scam.
A native of Supasi village of Gir Somanth district, 58-year-old Jotva is seen as one of the most popular faces of the Congress in Saurashtra. A farmer by profession, with a degree in Arts from Saurashtra University, Jotva also owns various businesses like transport, animal husbandry, petrol pump and has also dabbled in construction.
Claiming that Jotva’s opinion on candidate selection “was always sought by the party’s state and central leadership”, Junagadh district Congress chief and Jotva’s close aide Bharatbhai Hirpara said, “We have been friends since our childhood days. Jotva’s father Arjanbhai was also a Congress worker. Jotva began his political career as a sarpanch and went on to win the taluka panchayat and district panchayat elections. He has also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Junagadh district panchayat.”
Jotva also unsuccessfully contested the Keshod Assembly seat in the 2022 polls and the Junagadh Lok Sabha seat last year. Digvijay, on the other hand, won the sarpanch polls from Supasi village in Gir Somnath, a post once held by Jotva, just last week.
Sources close to the Jotva family said that both Digvijay and his elder brother Abhay completed their studies in London. Dijvijay returned to India only a couple of years ago and joined the family business of public development works.
Abhay is also a Congress leader and is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Gir Somnath district panchayat. “After I completed my studies, I told my father that I wanted to return and join politics. He told me it was very difficult and warned me of legal challenges and said I might even have to go to jail. I told him I was prepared for everything… I am sure my father and brother will come out clean,” said Abhay, adding that party workers have approached him, offering their help.
Jotva and Digvijay duo are alleged to be sleeping partners in Jalaram Enterprise and Murlidhar Enterprise, the firms that bagged contracts under the MGNREGA scheme to undertake works in Bharuch, and are accused of direct involvement in the irregularities that are currently being probed.
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According to the FIR, between 2021 and 2025, both enterprises secured contracts for road construction and other works across 56 villages of three talukas – Jambusar, Amod and Hansot. The police allege that most of these works were not complete, while poor quality material was used in others. The police said that around 250 people were questioned and 500 bank accounts were checked before arresting the duo.
State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said Jothva was a very respectable leader. “He was facing considerable pressure from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP during the recent Visavadar bypoll. BJP MP Mansukh Vasava has alleged the involvement of government officials as well as political leaders in it. The BJP top brass in Bharuch is involved in the scam. After the arrest of Khabad’s sons, the police have changed the direction of the probe by targeting Congress leaders. The true nature of the scam will be revealed only if there is a free and fair investigation. We have demanded the setting up of an SIT,” he said.
