FIR filed against child welfare officer in DA case

Ghaziabad: An FIR has been registered against a former district programme officer, child welfare department, in a case of disproportionate assets.
The complaint was lodged by the state vigilance establishment under Section 13 (1) (criminal misconduct by a public servant by habitually accepting gratifications other than legal remuneration) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Kavi Nagar police station. The crime attracts imprisonment for a term from one to seven years, and a fine under Section 13 (2) of the Act.

Pushpa Garg, inspector, UP vigilance establishment, who lodged the FIR on Friday, said that an inquiry into the disproportionate assets held by Sandhya Soni, who was posted as district programme officer in Ghaziabad, was initiated in 2014 following a complaint.

A final report in the case was sent to the state government in March, 2018 and it was found that Soni spent 14.9% more than the known sources of her income during the period fixed for the inquiry. “The official had earned Rs 62.4 lakh during the designated period from her known sources of income, but spent Rs 71.3 lakh. Prima facie, she is found guilty of earning disproportionate assets,” the FIR stated.