Minister orders dismissal of 5 officials for embezzling Rs 2.59 crore

CHANDIGARH: Punjab rural development and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Wednesday ordered dismissal of five officials found involved in the Rs 2.59-crore Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) embezzlement case.

Directions were also issued for registration of an FIR against another employee. Bajwa directed senior officials to conduct an inquiry into the working of MGNREGS in each block of the state, emphasising to ensure proper use of every penny sanctioned under the scheme.

These employees were posted in Faridkot, Muktsar Sahib and Ferozepur districts and their role was under scanner for making fake payments and other irregularities in implementation of the MGNREGS. The probe into the case had revealed that fake payments were made for purchase of material by assistant project directors of Faridkot block Yadvinder Singh and Harpreet Singh, Dalip Kumar (Gidderbaha block), Rajnish Sharma and Meena Sharma (Ferozepur block), and Charanjit Singh (Ghal block).

Panchayats minister ordered registration of a police case against Yadvinder Singh of Faridkot block, who had already resigned while dismissal orders were issued against all the remaining officials. Bajwa said strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in corrupt practices in implementation of all department schemes.