In the annals of India’s political corruption, few scandals have cast as long a shadow as the fodder scam that ensnared Lalu Prasad Yadav in the 1990s. That multi-crore fraud, involving the embezzlement of approximately ₹950 crore from Bihar’s animal husbandry department through fictitious purchases of fodder, medicines, and equipment for non-existent livestock, led to Yadav’s conviction in multiple cases and became a symbol of systemic graft under his watch as Chief Minister.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren finds himself at the center of fresh allegations that echo the scale and audacity of that infamous episode.

The District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) scam, centered in mining-rich districts like Bokaro, threatens to balloon into a comparable catastrophe, potentially dwarfing the fodder scam in financial magnitude if a thorough probe uncovers the full extent of the misappropriation. As the demand for CBI inquiry grows, the parallels to Lalu’s downfall are stark: both involve the plunder of public funds meant for the vulnerable. The DMFT scam has been executed under the stewardship of Hemant Soren who rose to power on promises of upliftment of poor and tribals. The scam has done grave damage to the cause of poor and tribals.

The DMFT scam allegations revolve around the alleged siphoning of funds from the District Mineral Foundation Trust, a mechanism designed to compensate communities impacted by mining activities. Established under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, DMFT trusts collect contributions from mining leaseholders — typically 10-30% of royalty payments — to finance development projects in affected areas. These include high-priority initiatives like drinking water, healthcare, education, sanitation, and skill development, with at least 60% of funds earmarked for such uses under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). Under Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government, critics allege that these trusts have been weaponized for personal and political gain. Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi, in a scathing September 8, 2025, address, branded Soren the “mastermind" of the scam, accusing him of treating DMFT funds as his “personal ATM." Marandi claimed that district administrations, acting on directives from the Chief Minister’s office, issued inflated tenders and made bloated payments to shell companies for substandard or phantom projects. Funds intended for roads, electricity, water, health, and........

© News18