Madhya Pradesh Man Claims He Was Declared Dead While Alive, Alleges Wife Drew Widow Pension Since 2014

A resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli district has alleged that he was officially declared dead in government records despite being alive, while his wife has been receiving widow pension benefits since 2014. The case has raised serious questions about verification mechanisms in welfare schemes and possible administrative lapses.

The matter came to light in Karsosa village under Janpad Panchayat Baidhan in Singrauli district. Chandravali Patel, the complainant, has been visiting government offices carrying a placard that reads, “SIR, I am alive,” in an attempt to draw attention to his grievance.

Allegation of Fraudulent Widow Pension Claim

According to Patel, his wife, Ajoriya Patel, had him declared deceased in official records and has since been residing in her parental village, Jeer. He claims that she has been availing widow pension benefits for nearly a decade by allegedly misrepresenting his status as dead.

Patel stated that he has repeatedly approached local authorities, including the police station, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and the District Collector’s office, seeking rectification of the records. However, he alleges that no corrective action has been taken so far.

Frustrated by the lack of response, he has resorted to public protest, using his placard campaign to appeal for administrative intervention and justice.

Maintenance Payments Continue Despite ‘Death’ Records

Adding a complex dimension to the case, Patel claims that he continues to pay monthly maintenance to his wife as per court directives. According to him, a dowry harassment case was filed against him in 2014, following which he was sent to jail.

In 2018, a court reportedly fixed a monthly maintenance amount of ₹5,000, which Patel says he continues to pay regularly. The alleged discrepancy — being officially recorded as deceased while still making maintenance payments — has intensified concerns about administrative oversight and record management.

District Authorities Order Investigation

Following the allegations, Jagdish Kumar Gome, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Singrauli District Panchayat, sought a detailed investigation report from Janpad Panchayat Baidhan.

Gome stated that strict action would be taken against anyone found to have benefited from false information or to have been involved in irregularities. He emphasized that responsibility would be determined once the inquiry report is submitted.

Questions Over Welfare Verification Systems

The incident has sparked discussion over the verification processes involved in social welfare schemes, particularly widow pension benefits. Officials are expected to examine whether there were lapses in documentation, identity verification, or oversight mechanisms that allowed such a situation to arise.

As the investigation progresses, authorities will need to clarify how the alleged discrepancy occurred and whether systemic reforms are required to prevent similar cases in the future.

For now, Chandravali Patel continues his efforts to have official records corrected, insisting that he is alive and seeking formal recognition of that fact from the administration.