SIT probing SC-ST scholarship scam arrests accused Gitaram Nautiyal

DEHRADUN: One of the accused in the muti-crore Scheduled Caste (SC)-Scheduled Tribe (ST) scholarship scam and joint director in state social welfare department (SWD) Gitaram Nautiyal was arrested by special investigation team (SIT) probing the scam on Thursday in Haridwar, said police.

He was arrested after he surrendered before the SIT led by superintendent of police, Haridwar (crime), Manjunath TC following the orders of the Supreme Court where he had filed a petition on October 25 requesting a stay on his arrest. The apex court, however, rejected his petition and asked him to surrender before the SIT within seven days. The deadline would have ended on Friday.

“Nautiyal presented himself before us at around 1.30 pm. After the required paper formalities, he was questioned for about two hours at the SIT office in Haridwar” said Manjunath while confirming the development.

He added, “Nautiyal who was so far evading the arrest, had no other choice after the Supreme Court orders. After the questioning he was arrested by police. He would be presented before the court on Friday followed by further investigations.”

With Nautiyal’s arrest, the number of SWD officials arrested by Manjunath led SIT has reached five. Nautiyal who had been refraining from coming before the SIT for questioning had earlier also approached the national Commission for ST after which on July 2, 2019. The alleged scam came to light after Dehradun-based Ravinder Jugran filed a PIL in the Uttarakhand HC. HTC