Embezzlement of incentives: CBI seeks details of students from 45 Hisar schools

The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chandigarh, has initiated an investigation into suspected irregularities in the disbursement of incentives related to students, including scholarships meant for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

The CBI has registered an FIR against unknown officials of the department. As part of the probe, the CBI has, in a communication dated May 26 addressed to the District Elementary Education Officer, Hisar, has sought comprehensive documentation and data from Block Education Officers and school teachers for the inquiry. About 45 schools have allegedly manipulated records to show 3,455 additional students only on paper.

The communiqué stated that the probe focuses on the academic years 2014-15 and 2015-16. The CBI has directed the schools concerned to furnish attendance registers of all classes and sections for these years. Besides, the agency has asked for admission and withdrawal registers indicating student movement during this period, including those who either enrolled or left school.

The probe agency has also demanded the files related to the disbursement of student-related incentives, such as scholarships, monthly stipends, uniform, stationery, and midday meals. Moreover, the CBI has also asked for detailed account statements of the schools and beneficiary students who received such incentives to verify the flow of funds and the actual disbursement.

The schools have been specifically directed to provide data on students who left between September 25, 2014, and March 31, 2016. These details are to be submitted in a prescribed tabular format and also provided in soft copy. The directive has been issued by Narender Kalwaniya, Investigation Officer, CBI-ACB, Chandigarh, and is dated May 29, reveals the letter.