Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 28: The recently tabled Comptroller of Auditor General (CAG) has hinted about non-transparency in maintaining the accounts which has brought the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Special Forest Division Tangmarg carved out from Pirpanjal Division Budgam and JV forest division Baramulla in 2010, under the scanner.
The said division has four different bank accounts with J&K Bank branch Tangmarg, each meant for separate purpose. CAG stated, "The lack of internal control mechanism facilitated suspected embezzlement of one crore in special forest division, Tangmarg."
It added that the matter was referred to government/ department in June 2015 reply thereof was not received.
As per the bank statement of official account 24 of the division, Rs 49.77 lakhs were withdrawn by the junior assistant of division in the name through cheques during June 1, 2010 to Octr, 24 2014. CAG said, "Of these Rs 15.64 lakhs was drawn in cash on self cheques and Rs 34.12 Lakhs was transferred to his personal bank account, apart from this, temporary/ forest advance of Rs 3.46 lakhs was paid (June 2012 to June 2014 ) to the junior assistant." "This too was drawn in cash/ transferred to his personal account, the report said. "All cheques issued from salary account above one lakh were credited to personal account of the junior assistant." Furthermore, Rs 13.43 lakh payable to junior assistant on account of salary from March 2010 to October 2014 and that excess amount credited to his account alongwith credit of 5.58 lakh made to 25 employees and arrear claim of Rs 1.17 lakh would be got verified by the committee constituted for the purpose. |
