The sitting sarpanch of village Bains Awan in Tanda block has been booked for fraudulently drawing old age pension by misrepresenting his age.
Gurmit Singh, whose age, as per his birth certificate, is 53 years, has been getting pension since 2008. The matter came to light when some
panches made a complaint to the deputy commissioner.
The investigation revealed that he had attached a copy of his passport bearing June 26, 1938 as his date of birth, with the application form whereas on his birth certificate the date mentioned was February 14, 1959. The deputy commissioner marked the complaint to the SSP on whose directions a case under Section 420 of IPC was registered against the accused. He has not been arrested so far.
Tanda block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) Neeraj Kumar, when contacted, said he was not aware as to how a wrong case had been sanctioned as he was not at the hem in 2008. The lapse had probably occurred at the end of either the civil surgeon office or the social security officials, he added.