Hyderabad, Aug. 14 -- Hundreds of private manpower agencies in Telangana have come under scrutiny after a state government audit and Aadhaar-based verification of outsourced workers revealed suspected provident fund (PF) fraud exceeding Rs 1,100 crore, said reports on Friday, August 14.

Covering around 1.6 lakh outsourced employees, the audit uncovered suspected ghost workers and highlighted concerns over how agencies managing salaries and statutory dues were being monitored, said the Times of India.

Over 60 per cent of outsourcing employees either did not have provident fund accounts or their contributions had not been regularly deposited, it said.

Under the outsourcing system, departments release payments to agencies covering salarie...