Nine forest officials booked in Ambala NREGA scam

Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, January 30

The State Vigilance Bureau registered a case against nine Ambala Forest Department officials including then DFO (territorial), late Thursday evening, in connection with the NREGA scam where Rs. 4.99 crores were allegedly embezzled while planting mass saplings and developing herbal parks in the district.

Three days ago, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had directed the officials to register a case in this regard as it had been lingering on for several years.

According to Vigilance Bureau officials the case has been registered against Jag Mohan Sharma, Gokul Sharma, Rajesh Rana, Prshant Sharma, Vinod Kumar, Kalyan Sharma, Deepak Kumar, Chandar Mohan and Surender Kumar under section 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B, 204 IPC and section (13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the FIR, Rs 25.13 crore was allotted to Ambala Forest Department for various development works in rural areas under the NREGA scheme. A fraud of Rs 55.5 lakh was revealed in developing herbal parks. Similarly embezzlement to the tune of Rs 1.7 crore was found for developing nurseries, Rs 1.9 crore to make kachcha passageways, Rs 61.68 in labour expenses, Rs 15 lakh in development works at Mandor and Sahzadpur village and Rs 2.28 lakh in excess construction of concrete paths in herbal parks.

Earlier, two additional deputy commissioners had sent their reports to the government mentioning the misappropriations in NREGA fund. Director General of state Vigilance Bureau had conducted an inquiry into it and submitted a report to the Chief Secretary. Later the government had sought several queries into it. Finally, SP Vigilance Bureau Ambala had sent a report of around 400 pages talking about the scam to the government.

DSP Vigilance Bureau Madan Lal said the matter was being investigated; no arrests have been made so far.