Punjab vigilance books PUNSUP official for embezzling over ₹5cr

The VB has registered a case under FIR no 25 dated November 22, 2022, under sections 409, 420, 465, 468, 471 of IPC and under sections 13(1) (a) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station, flying squad-1, SAS Nagar

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday registered an embezzlement case against the general manager of PUNSUP Naveen Kumar Garg for embezzling funds in the Atta Dal scheme implemented by the state government.

Representational image.

Disclosing this here, a spokesperson of the state VB said the bureau conducted a probe and found that during the disbursement under the Atta Dal scheme in the year 2015-16, Naveen Kumar caused a direct monetary loss of ₹2,20,52,042 to the state exchequer. “He had to deposit ₹43,74,98,681 in the account of UCO bank under this scheme but he deposited only ₹38,38,88,711. In this way, the accused has misappropriated ₹5,36,09,979 in conniving with other officials of the PUNSUP,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further added that accused Naveen Kumar during his tenure in the PUNSUP overlooked prescribed Punjab service rules and got filed several chargesheets issued to different officials of the department thus causing a loss of ₹64,64,36,854 to the state government.

He informed that during the investigations it has also come to light that Kumar didn’t have the requisite qualification and experience to be selected as manager of PUNSUP but despite that he succeeded in his selection whereas other candidates were declared ineligible.

In this regard, the VB has registered a case under FIR no 25 dated November 22, 2022, under sections 409, 420, 465, 468, 471 of IPC and under sections 13(1) (a) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station, flying squad-1, SAS Nagar. The investigation of this case was under progress and teams have been sent to arrest the accused, the spokesperson added.