Rs 80 lakh fraud by PU daily wage employee

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 1

Financial bungling of around Rs 80 lakh by a daily wage employee of the pension cell of Panjab University came to light today during “reconciliation of accounts and inbuilt checks and balances” of the finance department.

Sources said on Friday, one of the employees of the cell checked daily wage employee Pooja’s drawers and found the voucher of one of the claimants. Later, various other vouchers were also found lying in it. He informed higher officials about it, following which the misappropriation came to light.

An inquiry was conducted today by the finance department and it was found that fake accounts were opened by Pooja in the names of her relatives in which she was transferring money for the past three years.

The PU Registrar, Col GS Chadha, confirmed that after the financial fraud came to light, an inquiry was conducted and so far misappropriation of around Rs 48 lakh had been detected. He said the fraud could be of more than Rs 70 lakh. He said Pooja had confessed in front of the inquiry committee about the financial bungling and after due procedure, a case would be registered against her.

The sources said the inquiry committee was also trying to find out whether any other employee of the university was also involved in the bungling case.

The committee would find out how many fake accounts were opened by Pooja to transfer money from the pension cell funds.

Lavish lifestyle

A university employee said on condition of anonymity that Pooja used to lead a lavish lifestyle despite being a daily wage employee. She owns an Innova and a flat in Chandigarh.