: Sleuths of the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday seized Rs. 5.65 lakh unaccounted cash from the office of the AP Board of Secondary Education in Hyderabad following a surprise check.
AP Government Examinations Director M.R. Prasanna Kumar who is heading the office, was allegedly collecting a bribe of Rs. 1, 000 for each D.Ed management quota seat from representatives of colleges across the State.
According to ACB Central Investigation Unit DSP A. Rama Devi, after a surprise check on the office in the morning it was learnt that the department head was collecting money to forward the list of management quota students in each college to Principal Secretary to Government for approval.
“D.Ed colleges which fill management quota as well as leftover seats have to get them approved through the department. For the same, the department gave schedule of five days and as on Thursday, the fourth day D.Ed. colleges in nine districts completed submitting list of students for approval. The official allegedly collected Rs. 1, 000 for each seat and there are 20 per cent management quota seats in each college,” Ms. Rama Devi told The Hindu .
“By the time we raided, 30 colleges submitted had their list and the target set for the day was 100. On Friday, colleges in Kurnool, Anantapur and Kadapa are scheduled to submit their lists,” Rama Devi said.
A report would be submitted to the government on the raids and further investigation into the role of the other office personnel was on, she added.
Mr. Kumar is also holding the posts of Principal of Government Training College, Rajamahendravaram, and Joint Director, Quality Education. He earlier worked as Regional Joint Director and DEO in the Education Department.
