The Delhi Government’s Anti-Corruption Branch on Monday arrested a school principal accused of embezzling funds meant for the welfare of students.
Ashok Kumar Singh, principal of the Government Senior Secondary School in Nithari near Sultanpuri, was arrested on charges of embezzlement of the government funds to the tune of Rs. 27,35,870.
According to the government, an FIR was filed against Mr. Singh, who is currently under suspension, by the ACB on the basis of a complaint by a senior official of the Vigilance Department of the Directorate of Education (DoE).
The investigation, according to the ACB, revealed that Mr. Singh embezzled funds meant for various students’ welfare schemes such as subsidy for uniform, free supply of text books, welfare of educationally-backward minority students and Lal Bahadur Shahstri Scholarship.
The funds are meant to be distributed to eligible students in the same financial year as their disbursal by the government.
This, the ACB said, was done by “abusing his official position as the head of school and drawing and disbursing officer .
Mr. Singh delayed the distribution of funds in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively, meant for various students welfare schemes, though the money was withdrawn well in time; he kept the funds under his personal custody for a long period beyond the financial year applicable without any reasonable ground. “In the year 2011-12 and 2013-14, the accused withdrew huge amounts for various welfare schemes but distributed these only partially. Altogether he misappropriated Rs. 27,35,870 in the financial years of 2012 to 2014,” a government official said.
The investigation report against the principal said, “He dishonestly and fraudulently misappropriated the above money for his personal gain by abusing his position as a public servant and obtained pecuniary advantage. Being a public servant, he also committed criminal breach of trust.”
“During the course of investigation of documents pertaining to the withdrawal of funds seized from the school, it came to light that Mr. Singh also withdrew money by issuing cheques in the name of teachers, which is a clear violation of the procedure,” the official added.
According to the ACB, the role of two other officers – the Deputy Director of Education, North–West, and the Education Officer - was being ascertained in the case as they were seen to have failed to supervise the conduct and actions of the principal resulting in misappropriation and embezzlement of the funds.
According to ACB, role of two other officers is being ascertained as they have failed to supervise conduct
of the principal
