Stationery scam at Police headquarters: Vigilance recommends FIR against officials

The UT vigilance department has recommended an FIR against all erring officials in the stationery scam at the police headquarters. It was followed by a probe indicting the officials for allegedly submitting fictitious bills showing purchase of stationery meant for all city police stations and misappropriated funds worth over Rs 35 lakh.

Confirming the development, Officer on Special Duty (Vigilance) DSP Sukhraj Katewa told Chandigarh Newsline: “The fact that crucial records of three years was said to have been damaged in rain or unavailable also strengthened our findings which showed that it had been done with malafide intentions. We got to know other important facts too. An FIR has been recommended.”

Constable Jagjeet Singh, posted at the IT Park police station, had flagged the issue when in his complaint, he stated how officials (one junior assistant sought VRS) at the headquarters in connivance with a senior officer at the administrative level working at the UT police headquarters prepared fake requisitions, notings, bills and got the money transferred into the account of one Murari Enterprises in Sector 17 even when there was nothing purchased by the staff.

In his complaint, constable Jagjeet alleged how these bills were being prepared in a separate room in the basement of the headquarters. The money which went into Murari’s account online was being divided with the majority share going to the officials. It was said that the senior officer helped the accused by misusing his authority as he concealed the facts.

This senior officer involved in the scam was to retire on Friday and had sought extension.

Sources said after the authorities got to know about his alleged involvement in the scam, the home department in its order on Friday stated that no further extension would be given.

A few days ago, when the vigilance had sought crucial records pertaining to the case, the officials at the police headquarters claimed that the “records got damaged in heavy rain”, or “was destroyed” or was “not available”.

It was stated, “Record up to 2012-13 has already been destroyed with the approval of competent authority. No record is available for 2013-14 and 2014-15. Bills for the period 2015-16, as available, are enclosed. As regards old contingency record on the report of caretaker (Police Headquarters building) that records stored in the basement was damaged due to heavy rain on June 15, 2016. Senior officers have been informed in this regard.”

After getting these facts, the vigilance department realised that it was done due to malafide intentions.