Ropar: Ex-district programme officer booked for Rs50L fund misuse

Ropar, July 12

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The Vigilance Bureau has booked a retired district programme officer allegedly for misusing funds worth lakhs received by her during 2019-20, when she was posted at Ropar.

Vigilance Bureau DSP Satpal Singh said a probe had been started after booking ex-district programme officer Amrita Singh under Sections 409 and 420, IPC, and Prevention of Corruption Act.

As per information, Ashu Mittal of Sangrur and Rajinder Pal Mittal from Patiala lodged a complaint with Social Security and Woman and Child Development Department Director Vipul Ujjwal that over Rs 50 lakh have been spent by Amrita, flouting the rules and regulations.

According to the complaint, Amrita, who got retired in October last year, received

Rs 50 lakh in 2019-20 from the Union Ministry of Woman and Child Development. It was alleged that she didn’t follow the guidelines while spending the amount.

They alleged a majority of purchases were made without inviting quotations and no proper bills were submitted. “Also, 51 bicycles were bought by paying Rs 1.46 lakh to the dealer in advance even when no such proposal was made when funds were sought under the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” scheme. Similarly, 11 laptops worth Rs 2.2. lakh and 52,000 packs of sanitary napkins were purchased despite no such provision to use the money on these items.”

Meanwhile, Vipul said prima facie Amrita was found misusing the funds afterwhich the bureau was asked to probe the matter. — TNS