Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 2: A fraud worth over Rs 80 lakhs has been detected in Govt Treasury Banihal in district Ramban of Jammu division involving a surrendered militant and few contractors with the active connivance of ‘some insiders’ in the Department.
While the higher authorities in the Department of Accounts & Treasuries maintained criminal silence over the issue and avoided to lodge an FIR, they later ordered an internal inquiry into the matter just for face saving. A District Treasury Officer has been asked to hold probe into the matter and submit report to the Director, Accounts and Treasuries Jammu.
Official sources told the Excelsior that not only in Banihal Treasury, the issue of double payments to some contractors was also hushed up at Saddar Treasury Jammu on last day of this financial year, with no action taken against the officials responsible for the lapse. By opening adjoining J&K Bank branch at Town Hall during mid night, the selective staff made corrections and withdraw the excessive money.
Sources revealed that in Govt Treasury Banihal, the fraud worth over Rs 80-85 crore was the brain child of a surrendered militant, now employed in the same department. This is the second fraud committed by the same person. On earlier occasion also, he allegedly had committed the fraud but later, he deposited the amount in the account and the senior officers shielded him and the case was hushed up.
Now again, with a well conceived strategy, the same person was the kingpin of the fraud and with the connivance of a few favourite contractors of the area, a fake account was opened in the Banihal branch of J&K Bank recently. With the connivance of this kingpin and some insiders in the Banihal Govt Treasury, bills worth over Rs 80 to 85 lakh as double drawls were intentionally deposited in the same account. It was done just a few days before the closing of this financial year.
As the matter came to the notice of District Treasury Officer Ramban, sensing trouble ahead, he took up the matter with the higher authorities at Jammu. Later, this mastermind mounted pressure on the senior officers from his mentors and certain other quarters within the Government to seek protection.
The senior officers though maintained criminal silence yet build up pressure on this employee to withdraw the amount and deposit in the treasury. But the DTO Ramban and some other officers when contacted expressed their innocence over the matter.
Director Accounts and Treasuries Jammu, Iftikhar Choudhary when contacted said that he had taken the charge recently and was not much aware of the issue. Later, he maintained that when the matter came to his notice, he ordered an inquiry into the matter. He said District Treasury Officer Ramesh Singh has been directed to hold probe and submit the same within one week. He, however, avoided to share any inputs, claiming that he would be able to divulge anything only after the inquiry report is submitted by the DTO.
Replying to another question, he said that action under law will be taken if any body is found involved in the case. He also refused to share the amount involved in the case.
SSP Ramban, Mohan Lal when contacted said that though this is criminal case but no FIR has been lodged by the Treasury Officer Banihal or District Treasury Officer Ramban so far in this connection. He however, said that police will definitely take cognizance of it as the matter pertains to public money and alleged fraud in a Government organization.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel