SAD sarpanch, panchayat secy booked for ₹41-lakh fraud

TARNTARAN: The local police have booked a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sarpanch, Roop Singh, and a panchayat secretary, Manjinder Singh, of Nandpur village in Patti sub- division on charges of embezzling government grants to the tune of ₹41.19 lakh, on Saturday.

A case was registered after investigation by district development and panchayat officer (DD PO) Ta rn Ta ran, Jagj it Singh Ball, on the complaints of the villagers.

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Patti, Sohan Singh, said, “The villagers had informed the DDPO about embezzlement in the funds released by the state government in from 2013 to 2017.”

“After the DDPO’s investigation it was found that the sarpanch and panchayat secretary had sold the old bricks of boundary wall of the village. Both embezzled ₹ 41.19 lakh in past five years,” said the DSP.

The DDPO had written to senior superintendent of police (SS P) Tarn Tara non August 11 to register a case, said police.

After that the Patti police booked the duo, said the police officer.

A case under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) of the Indian Pen al Code( I PC) has been registered against the accused persons at the Patti police station, said the DSP.

In DDPO’s investigation it was found that the sarpanch and panchayat secretary had sold the old bricks of boundary wall of the village. Both have been embezzling money for the past five years.

SOHAN SINGH, deputy superintendent of police