MC investigates attendance scam

Ludhiana, September 12

A suspected attendance scam has come to light in the operations and maintenance branch of the Municipal Corporation. The civic body authorities have found names of a few persons on the list of safai karamcharis as well as that of sewer men. According to information, these persons used to mark attendance as safai karamcharis as well as sewer men.

It is suspected that salaries may have also been withdrawn under these names from both branches of the civic body. The matter is being looked into by the MC authorities.

After questions were raised over the role of a sub-divisional officer, who was recruited on an outsourcing basis, in the alleged scam, he offered resignation to avoid action, sources said.

Municipal Commissioner Kanwalpreet Brar is investigating the matter. She said two or three such cases had been detected wherein the persons have marked attendance at more than one branches. After inquiring the matter, requisite action would be taken against the erring officials, she added.

Earlier, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu had carried out physical verification of the sewer men at the Zone D office. Sandhu admitted that they came across cases in which persons had marked attendance at two places. He further said he was also inquiring as to whether the salaries were drawn from multiple branches by the same persons or not.

The sources said some politicians were trying to protect the officials allegedly involved in the scam. — TNS