School headmaster fraudulently withdraws Rs 1L school funds

AGRA: A primary school headmaster in Agra's Bah block allegedly cheated the basic education department by pocketing Rs 1.08 lakh of school development funds from different bank accounts. No FIR has been filed so far as investigations are in progress.

According to Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), strict action will be taken against those responsible. Meanwhile, 16 bank accounts from where the money was withdrawn by using fraudulent means have been seized.

In the entire matter, the block education officer and heads of school management committees have already made their statement against the headmaster.

Kapesh Samadhiya is a headmaster at Jarar village primary school in Bah block. He allegedly withdrew Rs 1.08 lakh between June 1 and 6 from 16 bank accounts of nine schools by fraudulent means.

In the past, all the Shiksha Mitras (contractual teachers) were appointed as assistant teachers in primary schools. They were assigned responsibility of maintaining bank accounts for school development funds and other schemes jointly with gram pradhans.

Last year, Supreme Court ordered cancellation of appointment of all Shiksha Mitras as assistant teacher. After this, all the bank accounts maintained by them were transferred to permanent teachers. Bank accounts of nine primary schools at Jarar village and nearby areas were transferred to Kapesh Samadhiya.

Recently Samadhiya wrote a letter to two banks concerned saying the cheque books had been lost and the new ones should be issued. After getting the new cheque books, he issued over Rs 1 lakh worth cheques in the name of different people. Someone made an online complaint with department officials. The Agra BSA was asked to look into the matter. It is yet to be ascertained in whose names the cheques were issued.

BSA directed the district coordinator of primary schools, Anil Chaudhary, to conduct an investigation of the matter. The investigating officer went to the branches of Canara Bank and Rural Bank of Aryavarta. He found that the sign and seal of the application for the cheque books were fake. The then block education officer also confirmed it.

Investigation officer Anil Chaudhary said, "Headmaster Kapesh Samadhiya has been called twice to record his statement but he has not come. So far, all the evidence points to his involvement in the scam."

BSA Anand Prakash Sharma said, "The matter is very serious and is under detailed investigation. Besides the headmaster, all those found guilty in the matter will face strict action. A police case will be registered and he may be terminated from service."