One more held for embezzling Kaithal Zila Parishad funds
A team of the Ambala Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested one more accused in a case of embezzlement of sanitation funds of Kaithal Zila Parishad. So far, the bureau has arrested 13 persons in this case.
The accused has been identified as Sumit Miglaini, a resident of Karnal. The team members recovered Rs 2.6 lakh from his residence, said the police.
The investigation was initiated based on a complaint filed by former Kaithal MLA Leela Ram in July 2021, alleging financial irregularities in the Kaithal Zila Parishad during financial year 2020-21. The Panchayat Department of Haryana had allocated Rs 31.64 crore under the ‘grant for creation of capital assets scheme’, of which 50 per cent was meant for sanitation work. However, instead of utilising Rs 15.82 crore for sanitation projects in rural areas, Zila Parishad officials and contractors allegedly misappropriated funds by taking commissions of 35-40 per cent and making fraudulent payments without executing actual work.
After the investigation, a case was registered on May 27, 2024, at the Anti-Corruption Bureau police station in Ambala. On May 28, 2024, the ACB arrested Naveen Kumar, the then SDO, Jasbir Singh, Sahil Kashyap, Jasbir Singh, all Junior Engineers (JEs), Kulwant Singh, the then accountant clerk, and six contractors – Anil Garg, Rajesh Garg, Dilbagh Singh, Abhay Sandhu, Rohtash Singh Shekhar Kala and Kamaljeet Dhanda.
On August 1, 2024, another accused, contractor Rohtash, was also arrested. The team members also recovered a total of Rs 14.65 lakh from these accused. All the accused were later granted regular bail by the court. The ACB filed a chargesheet against all accused persons before the Additional Sessions Judge, Kaithal, on August 23, 2024 against several accused including Naveen Kumar, Jasbir Singh, Kulwant Singh, Dilbagh Singh, Anil Garg, Rajesh Garg, Abhay Sandhu and Rohtash. Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
As of now, accused Shekhar Kala, Kamaljit, Jaibir Singh and Sahil Kashyap remain in judicial custody at Kaithal District Jail, while the other accused got bail from the court.
