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| Embezzlement funds of Rs 5 lakh at RDD Mendhar | | Inquiry committee, ACB playing delay tactics to save suspended officials | | Rajesh Tandon
Early Times Report
Poonch, Feb 2: The Rural Development Department Poonch seems to be helping its’ erring officials, who were suspended in an embezzlement of funds case, which can be gauged from the fact that the inquiry committee which first took three months to give its report and later remarked that there is still need of review on the inquiry.
As per documents available with Early Times a complaint was lodged in Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and concerned department regarding embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs on the name of some development works in Ward No. 3 Chatala of Panchayat Gursai Moori of Block Mendhar district Poonch, which were actually never executed on ground.
After a preliminary investigation, the department found four officials guilty and suspended them. An order was issued from the office of ACD Poonch which reads “As reported by Block Development officer Mendhar vide letter No: BM/2021-22/1702-03 Dated; 17.09.2021 and letter No: BM/2021-22/717 Dated: 19.07.2021 and this office letter No: ACDP/MGNREGA/2021 22/4022-24 dated: 06.07.2021 prima facie irregularities / misappropriation and embezzlement in some works noticed in Halqa Panchayat Gursai Moori including Construction of Drain at Mohalla Chatala, Construction of Tractor Road Mohalla Kaiwala to HSS School W.No 03, Construction of work/footpath main Road to kainwala W.No 03, Construction of Tile work/ Footpath main road to Chatala W.No 03., Construction of Pacca B/Path at Mohalla Gorsian W.No 03, Construction of SC Work Graveyard at Mohalla chatala W.No 03,”
It further reads that consequent to the above preliminary the role of following staff is found suspicious/ doubtful, whereby irregularities / misappropriation and embezzlement occurred there as such the following staff members are hereby placed under suspension including Karamat Hussain Shah the then Panchayat Secretary Block Mendhar Present working at Block Mankote, Javid Iqbal Panchayat Secretary (already under suspension), Shabana Jaffari GRS Block Mendhar, Shajahat Ali Shah the then Technical Assistant Block Mendhar presently Block Surankote.
RDD constituted a committee of three members to investigate the matter on 18-9-2021 and was directed to submit the report within 15 days but it failed to complete the inquiry and submitted it after three months.
Later an Advocate Ashutosh Khanna lodged an RTI application to ACD Poonch demanding information about the report of the committee. A telephonically hearing was conducted wherein the applicant was informed that inquiry has been completed and a copy of report was also provided to the applicant but shockingly ACD Poonch requested the applicant not make this report public by saying that there is still need of review on the inquiry.
Meanwhile BDO Mendhar informed that an order has also been issued for recovery of Rs 90000 from the suspended officials which till date has not been recovered.
Khanna alleged that the department has been playing delaying tactics, which is clear from its way of conducting the inquiry as 15 days of inquiry time took 3 months and now senior officials are giving absurd statements that the inquiry is still pending.
When Early Times contacted the ACD Poonch for his comments, he said that four employees are already suspended and further process to charge sheet them is underway. He further said that the committee has furnished partial facts in its first report and it has been asked to provide complete facts. He also informed that the status of inquiry has been shared with ACB. |
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