LTC scam probe to be completed in two months: SSP

The Pauri district Senior Superintendent of Police Jagat Ram Joshi said that the investigation into the Garhwal Central University LTC scam will be completed within a period of two months. Strict legal action will be taken against those found involved in the scam, he added. The documents to be used as the evidence of the scam are being collected by the police.

It should be mentioned here that a case was registered against the officers and employees of the HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, on the complaints of the general secretary of the Society for Revolution Against Corruption, Santosh Mamgain. The case had been registered on the instruction of the then senior superintendent of police on 17 February 2016 under sections 120 B, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code code in Police Kotwali at Srinagar in Pauri district. The investigation of the case was first handed over to sub inspector Santosh Kumar, then transferred to senior sub inspector Vijay Singh of Kotdwar before being transferred to sub inspector Mukesh after which I was finally transferred to sub inspector Jitendra Chauhan (Satpuli), who is presently investigating the case. According to information provided by sources, the investigation could not progress much so far purportedly due to the indifferent attitude of the university administration.

The investigation officer Jitendra Chauhan said that the complainant Mamgain had alleged in his complaint that the officer and employees took the LTC from 2010 to 2014 and some of them also violated the norms of the LTC which amounted to misuse of government money. According to the rule of LTC, the eligible employees can also travel by air but they are required to travel by Air India in ticket HLTC category, which is of higher rate than general flight ticket. Mamgain had alleged that the officers and employees travelled in general flight, but charged LTC on higher rates and received the LTC in higher rates, which is a major anomaly.

The bill and vouchers were demanded from the university, but the university administration didn’t provide the sought documents. Later, on the order of the court, the documents were handed over to the investigating officer on January 30, 2017. On observation it was found that out of the 93 officers and employees, two were not entiled for air journey, while one had sought permission from Human Resources Development ministry to travel in a private airline.

The details of 90 employees were sent to Air India for verification. The information received on april 4 this year ascertained that 57 employees has got the excess reimbursement for air tickets as they had travelled using the general tickets.

The investigating officer further informed that the statement of the employees is yet to be recorded and after their statements are recorded, the travel agents will also be questioned. The university administration has been sent a notice to give the current status and address of the employees in question on April 16 but the police are yet to receive a reponse to the query so far.