Muktsar ex-ADC comes under scanner: Faces probe for ‘misappropriation’ of rural job scheme funds

Muktsar ex-ADC comes under scanner 

Faces probe for ‘misappropriation’ of rural job scheme funds

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 23
An alleged misappropriation of MGNREGA (Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds has come to light in the district. The role of former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Kuldeep Singh has come under the scanner.
Acting upon a complaint, present Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) NS Bath has even begun investigations into the alleged misappropriation.
Bath said, “As per the complaint received, the official who earlier held the charge of ADC (D) Muktsar is accused of releasing MGNREGA funds for the purchase of stationery items without verifying the works for which the payment was made.”
He said the complaint was received 15 days ago. “I have started investigations. The statements of a superintendent and a few other officials have been recorded. Correspondence has been made twice to the officer concerned whose role is in question to come and record his statement for a speedy probe,” he said.
The investigating officer said the grant amounted to around Rs 40 lakh, which was paid to a printer for purchasing stationery items under the job scheme for the entire district.
Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh said, “We have taken the matter seriously. Even before receiving the complaint, I had told the present ADC to investigate the matter as I had received some verbal inputs about alleged irregularities in payments made under the MGNREGA.” He said records had been seized and the matter was under investigation.
Kuldeep Singh, who at present holds the charge of Land Acquisition Collector, Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, confirmed that he had been contacted by the Muktsar ADC. “I got a call today. The matter in question is payment made for the purchase of stationery goods under the MGNREGA. The payment was made from one government department to another. I am ready to get my statement recorded and whosoever is found guilty should be booked as per the law.”

Synopsis of the matter

• The funds were part of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
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• The case pertains to “misappropriation” of NREGA funds worth Rs 40 lakh
• A complaint was received against Muktsar ex-ADC Kuldeep Singh two weeks ago
• The charge is he released funds without verifying what for the grant was meant
• The matter pertains to the purchase of stationery items for Muktsar district
• Present ADC NS Bath has already started investigations into the “misappropriation”
• Kuldeep Singh has also been summoned for the recording of his statement twice
• He, however, claimed that the payment was made from one govt department to another

Courtesy: The Tribune