Ex-DEO, 3 principals booked for irregularities

In a case of alleged record tampering and financial misappropriation, the Faridkot police have registered a criminal case against a former District Education Officer (DEO), three school principals, a head teacher and a former school management committee member.

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The case, linked to incidents over five years old, was filed following court orders and on the recommendation of the DEO (Elementary).

The accused include former Faridkot DEO Dhan Singh Deol; Head Teacher Jaskewal Singh of Government Primary School, Pipli; senior helper Sukhjinder Singh from the DEO office; Principal Rajwinder Kaur of Government Senior Secondary School, Machaki Mall Singh; Principal Varinder Kumar Salhotra of Government Senior Secondary School, Moranwli; Principal Sudha of Government Senior Secondary School, Ghugiana; and former school management committee member Nachhattar Singh.

The case stems from a complaint filed by Rajveer Singh Brar of Sadiq village, who submitted an RTI request in 2019 regarding Nachhattar Singh’s role in the school management committee. Investigations revealed that then-Principal Jaskewal Singh had allegedly tampered with official records to forge Nachhattar Singh’s signatures. That led to an inquiry, exposing both document falsification and financial irregularities in school grants.

Findings from the investigation highlighted mismanagement of Rs 7,55,040, allocated in two instalments for constructing three classrooms. However, records falsely reflected an expenditure of Rs 10,83,775.