Farmer Fakes Tiger Attack in Bhandara, Exposed by Doctors
A farmer in Bhandara faked a tiger attack to claim compensation but was exposed after refusing rabies injections. Forest officials have issued a warning.
by Nagpur Trends Team | Published on 2025-04-08 13:26:11
Bhandara, India: A farmer from Mohghata village in Sakoli taluka shocked forest officials after he falsely claimed a tiger attacked him. The lie was caught when doctors told him he would need 14 anti-rabies injections, and he refused to take them.
The farmer, 41-year-old Dudharam Rajiram Meshram, said the tiger attacked him on Sunday morning while he was collecting mahua flowers in a field. He claimed he fainted during the attack and that other farmers found him and took him home.
Forest officers Rameshwar Bharade and Balu Nishchit visited his house after hearing about the incident. They saw that his shirt and vest were torn, and he had bruises on his stomach. He was taken to the Sakoli sub-district hospital for treatment.
Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Sanjay Mendhe said that doctors had doubts from the beginning. “His wounds didn’t look like tiger injuries,” he said. But Dudharam continued with his story until doctors told him he would have to take 14 rabies injections. He became nervous and refused, which made the officials even more suspicious.
The forest department then took Dudharam back to the field where he claimed the attack happened. There, they found more signs that his story was false. The mahua tree he mentioned had no flowers, and he could not give details about the tiger or the attack. He even fainted while being questioned.
A full check of the area showed no proof of any tiger being there. There were no paw marks, broken branches or signs of a struggle. Officials now believe Dudharam may have hurt himself by falling or by hitting thorny bushes.
They suspect he made up the story to get sympathy or money, as the government gives compensation for wild animal attacks. The amount can go up to ₹25 lakh for death, ₹7.5 lakh for permanent disability, ₹5 lakh for serious injuries and ₹50,000 for minor ones.
The forest officers decided not to take legal action this time but gave him a strong warning. They said if he tries to make a false report again, strict action will be taken. The incident has now become the talk of the village, with many locals making fun of the fake tiger tale.