VB books PUNSUP GM for embezzling over ₹5cr

VB SPOKESPERSON SAYS DURING INVESTIGATION, IT HAS CAME TO LIGHT THAT NAVEEN KUMAR DIDN’T HAVE THE REQUISITE QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE TO BE SELECTED AS MANAGER OF PUNSUP

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday registered a case against the general manager of PUNSUP Naveen Kumar Garg for embezzling funds in the Atta Dal scheme implemented by the state government.

Disclosing this here, a spokesperson of the state VB said the bureau conducted a probe and found that during the disbursement under the Atta Dal scheme in the year 2015-16, Naveen Kumar caused a direct monetary loss of ₹2,20,52,042 to the state exchequer.

“He had to deposit ₹43,74,98,681 in the account of UCO Bank under this scheme but he deposited only ₹38,38,88,711. In this way, the accused has misappropriated ₹5,36,09,979 in conniving with other officials of the PUNSUP,” the spokesperson said.

‘Accused overlooked Punjab service rules’

The spokesperson further added that accused Naveen Kumar during his tenure in PUNSUP overlooked prescribed Punjab service rules and got filed several chargesheets issued to different officials of the department thus causing a loss of ₹64,64,36,854 to the state government.

He said that during the investigations it has also come to light that Kumar didn’t have the requisite qualification and experience to be selected as manager of PUNSUP but despite that he succeeded in his selection whereas other candidates were declared ineligible.

In this regard, the Vigilance Bureau has registered a case under first information report no 25 dated November 22, 2022, under sections 409, 420, 465, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under sections 13(1) (a) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Vigilance Bureau police station, flying squad-1, SAS Nagar (Mohali), the spokesperson said.

The investigation of the case was under progress and teams have been sent to arrest the accused, the vigilance bureau spokesperson added.