FIRs registered against 23 officials in multi-crore scam in MP

Taking cognizance of a multi-crore scam revealed by an audit report of district and janpad education centres in Jhabua and Alirajpur districts between 2007 and 2010, economic offences wing (EOW) of Indore on Friday registered 13 first information reports (FIRs) against 23 officials. Among them are former district project coordinators (DPCs), block resource coordinators (BRCs) and accountants.

Taking cognizance of a multi-crore scam revealed by an audit report of district and janpad education centres in Jhabua and Alirajpur districts between 2007 and 2010, economic offences wing (EOW) of Indore on Friday registered 13 first information reports (FIRs) against 23 officials. Among them are former district project coordinators (DPCs), block resource coordinators (BRCs) and accountants.

FIRs were registered under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. EOW took action after the Bhopal district education department decided to begin an investigation into the matter through ministry of general administration department.

According to information, FIRs have been registered against SC Soni and Subhash Trivedi, former DPCs of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Jhabua district education centre and 21 others.

During the preliminary investigation, the department found mass irregularities in an audit report of financial year 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. As per the audit report, officials misused their offices for their own financial gains and caused a Rs 3.5-crore loss to the department.

‘Officials purchased goods without issuing tenders’

EOW sources informed that department officials purchased goods required for the department without issuing tenders. To cover up their misdeeds, they manipulated audit reports.

Since EOW has registered FIRs only after investigation, the investigation agency will submit a challan in the court soon.

When HT attempted to contact officials against whom FIRs have been registered, majority of them asked to contact their lawyers or said that they will reply media queries only after having words with their lawyers.