VB may attach properties of accused in MGNREGS scam

CHANDIGARH: In Haryana's multi-crore MGNREGS scam, the state vigilance bureau may initiate process to confiscate property of the accused, senior forest officers, if it fails to arrest them.
The bureau on Monday informed the Haryana lokayukta that it would also approach the court seeking fresh arrest warrants of the accused. The accused have not been arrested even after nine months of registration of an FIR against them.Nine forest officials, including a divisional forest officer, are facing criminal charges in the case.
Bureau's additional director general B K Sinha told TOI that an Ambala court had already rejected an anticipatory bail application of the three accused. "We are trying to take strictest possible measures to ensure arrest of the accused. We may also approach the court seeking permission to attach their properties," he added.
RTI activist P P Kapoor, who had taken the matter to the lokayukta, said the scam took place in Ambala district during 2007-10. In January, the vigilance bureau had registered an FIR against the then Ambala divisional forest officer Jagmohan Sharma, range forest officers Gokul Sharma, Rajesh Rana, Prashant Sharma, Vinod Kumar, Lakshman Das and Deepak Alavadi, a deputy superintendent Chander Mohan and another official Surender Kumar Nagar in connection with Rs 5 crore scam.