Himcon booked for cheating, forgery

Solan, November 10

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy against the Himachal Consultancy Organisation (Himcon) at its Shimla office today.

DIG Rameshwar Thakur said an inquiry was conducted by the bureau over the allegations of embezzlement and siphoning off public money in skill development programmes meant for SC candidates, which was conducted by Himcon.

It was found that training was shown as conducted by Himcon on fruit-processing from 2013 to 2014 at Nirmand in Kullu district, Karsog in Mandi district, Barot in Mandi district and Nerwa in Shimla district.

As many as 25 participants were shown to have been trained at each of these stations for which Rs 7 lakh was sanctioned by National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation Ltd (NSFDC).

The inquiry, however, found that a large number of such participants were fictitious and false records had been prepared to claim money. Neither the stipends had been paid to the participants, nor had they received any training certificate.

The company was booked for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. — TNS