Rs 1.80 crore in govt funds paid to Punjab tile firm, top officer named key accused
The Vigilance Bureau in Punjab has named a senior official in its investigation into an alleged Rs 1.80-crore misappropriation of government funds, where the money
The Vigilance Bureau in Punjab has named a senior official in its investigation into an alleged Rs 1.80-crore misappropriation of government funds, where the money was allegedly paid to a Ferozepur tile firm in 11 instalments. The official named in the investigation is Arun Sharma, an officer who was the then Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) and is currently serving as Deputy Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Officer. Read Full Story The development comes after a lengthy investigation into the financial irregularities. The case, initially registered on December 13, 2024, named the then Divisional Development Officer/BDPO, the then Chairperson of the Panchayat Samiti and four data-entry operators.
The investigation was subsequently handed over to the Vigilance Department, which has now expanded the probe to include Sharma. According to documents, Rs 1,80,87,591 was allegedly misappropriated from 15th Finance Commission grants between May 26 and June 23, 2024. The money was reportedly transferred to the single tile-manufacturing firm in 11 instalments over a period of several days. The payments have raised questions about the procurement process and whether the material for which the government funds were released was actually supplied and used for development works. The investigation is also examining the whereabouts of the tiles purchased with the funds. The scam came to light in October 2024 when the then ADC (Development), Ferozepur, Lakhwinder Singh Randhawa flagged the misappropriation in a letter.
In the letter, addressed to the Ferozepur BDPO, Randhawa stated that government funds amounting to Rs 1.80 crore had been allegedly embezzled between May 26 and June 23. He also pointed tolapses in monitoring, stating that the BDPO had neither properly checked the project records nor initiated an investigation despite being informed about the alleged financial irregularities. Following the complaint, the BDPO approached the police seeking action. The state government subsequently assigned the matter for investigation to the Divisional Deputy Director of Panchayats, Patiala, and the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Bathinda, on November 14, 2024. The manner in which the funds were disbursed has emerged as a key focus of the investigation.
Officials familiar with the departmental process said expenditure and receipts are required to be recorded in the cash book maintained by the accounts branch. The discovery of the irregularities months after the transactions has raised questions over the monitoring and accounting mechanisms in the department. The investigation is also examining whether the claimed development works were actually carried out and whether the material purchased through the 11 payments was supplied. Ends
The BriefWire