JAMMU: Unearthing another scam wherein over Rs 23 lakh were swindled, the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) on Wednesday arrested four officials including a Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Zonal Education Planning Officer (ZEPO), a Headmaster while a lady clerk managed to flee during the raid.
Director SVO Munir Khan said, “The SVO has registered FIR 06/17 under Section 5(1) (c) read with 5(2) J&K P.C. Act Svt. 2006, Section 409,467,120-B, RPC against Mohammad Shafi Wani, the then ZEO Dangerpora, Sopore, Mehraj-ud-Din Shawl, the then Zonal Education Planning Officer Dangerpora Sopore, Ali Mohammad Mushki, the then Headmaster Government Middle School Rajpora Sopore, Rifat Ara, the then Junior Assistant ZEO office Dangerpora Sopore, Zahoor Ahmad Shah, Teacher in Government Middle School Rajpora Sopore.”
According to the SVO, an amount of Rs 23,19,321 was released and withdrawn from government accounts against the allotted cost of Rs. 9.99 lakhs in the construction of three room school building under SSA in the premises of Government Middle School Rajpora Sopore during the period 2012-13. The excess drawn amount to the tune of Rs. 13,20,321 has been misappropriated by the officers/officials of Education Zone Dangerpora Sopore by way of abuse of their official position under a well knit conspiracy hatched by them, said Khan. Director Munir Khan said soon after the registration of FIR, the SVO sleuths swung into action and arrested four accused namely Mohammad Shafi Wani, Mehraj-ud-Din Shawl, Ali Mohammad Mushki and Zahoor Ahmad Shah Teacher in Govt. Middle School Rajpora Sopore during surprise raids. Rifat Ara, the then Junior Assistant managed to give slip to the raiding party. Further investigation of the case has been set in motion while the Vigilance has launched manhunt to nab absconding Rifat Ara, Khan said.