| Charges framed against ZEO, others in misappropriation case | | | Early Times Report
Udhampur, Aug 9: Additional Sessions Judge Anticorruption, Udhampur, Dinesh Gupta, has framed charges against John Mohd. Teacher, the Incharge Head Master of Middle School Dharian and convener of the Village Education Committee, along with S. Pardeep Singh, a retired ZEO (Zone Education Officer). The charges stem from their alleged misuse of their official positions in a conspiracy that resulted in the misappropriation of Rs 99,939, causing financial loss to the State exchequer.
According to the charge sheet presented by the prosecution and the evidence on record, the accused individuals collaborated to intentionally misappropriate funds allotted for the construction of three additional classrooms in the building of Govt. Mobile Middle School Upper Kund, Tehsil Thuru, District Reasi. These funds, totaling Rs 750,000, were sanctioned under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and assigned to ZEO Arnas.
ZEO Arnas transferred Rs 380,000 in two installments to the official account of the Head Master of Govt School Dharian for the specified construction project. Accused John Mohd, the Head Master, allegedly conspired with Contractor Khushi Mohd and ZEO S. Parmodh Singh to release the funds to the contractor. However, the construction work was only carried out up to the plinth level instead of the planned lantern level, and an excessive amount of funds was purportedly misappropriated.
Based on these actions, the accused individuals are charged under Section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, for their involvement in a criminal conspiracy to commit misappropriation.
After hearing arguments from the Assistant Public Prosecutor Himanshu Parkash for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Judge Dinesh Gupta concluded that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the case against the accused. Separate charges have been framed against both individuals for their alleged roles in the incident. |
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