Rs 3 cr scam unearthed in Jalandhar agriculture society

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 24

Amid the nationwide lockdown, a Rs 3 crore scam has been unearthed in a multipurpose agriculture society in Adampur.

The fraud came to light when Itbari, a farm labourer, who was to leave for his native village in Uttar Pradesh for his daughter’s wedding, scheduled for April 17, went to the agriculture society to withdraw his savings and was told that the secretary had committed a fraud and there was no money.

The next day lockdown was announced. Neither he could get his hard-earned money nor could he marry off his daughter because of the lockdown.

Investigation has revealed that the fraud amount could be more than Rs 3 crore as the secretary had been allegedly committing such malpractices since 2010.

Like Itbari, several others, who are in dire need of money in this time of crisis, are in deep problem.

Itbari said, “My daughter’s marriage had to be postponed. How will I recover from this loss? Only the government can help me now,” he said.

The cooperative department has sought criminal action against the secretary. But because of the lockdown, the department is facing problems in account confirmation.

Assistant Registrar (Jalandhar 1) Gurwinderjit Singh said the department had sought permission from the Deputy Commissioner to allow for account confirmation. “Legal proceedings against the employee, who has committed the fraud, has been initiated. We hope we get the permission for account confirmation and the process will speed up,” he said.

Deputy Registrar Navneet Kaur said the police wanted to file an FIR against the accused, adding that the charge of the society had been given to the secretary of another agriculture society.

HOW IT CAME TO FORE

• Itbari, a farm labourer, had gone to the agriculture society to withdraw his savings for his daughter’s wedding
• He was told that the secretary of the society had committed a fraud and there was no money
• The next day, nationwide lockdown was announced
• Neither he could get his hard-earned money nor could he marry off his daughter

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