Fraud charges against Delhi Police,probe on

The case is among several charges of misappropriation of Delhi Police funds levelled against the staff members of the PCR accounts department. The Crime Branch is currently investigating a scam in the disbursal of salaries and arrears (following the implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations) of as many as 10,000 personnel with the PCR.

While initial inquiries estimated the fraud to of Rs 20 lakh,officials believe the amount could be higher.

Detected as early as November 2008,a couple of then assistant sub-inspectors,Ranjeet Singh and Randhir Singh,along with constable Anil Kumar,had brought the alleged fraud by PCR accounts department heads to the notice of the Inspector and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP),PCR. After no action was taken,Anil Kumar,in a letter to the Police Commissioner had alleged that then ACP (PCR) Shanti Devi,along with Inspector Suresh Chandra Gaur and head constables Ishwar Singh,Jai Prakash and Abhey Singh had fraudulently withdrawn excess salary and arrears to the tune of several lakhs from government funds.

“The ACP,Inspector and others fraudulently withdrew excess fund amounts in the first installment of Sixth Pay Commission arrears. Thereafter,the relevant entries were deleted from the computer after we complained of discrepancies. Lakhs of rupees have been misappropriated from the government account,” reads the complaint letter submitted to the Delhi Police Commissioner. Newsline has a copy of the letter dated September 7.

Kumar also attached copies of the bank account statements of all accused,which reveals that a salary amount of Rs 9,199 was deposited to the account of head constable Abhey Singh (since deceased) on October 30,2008. The same day,an amount of Rs 36,729 was also deposited as salary in his account.

When contacted,ACP Devi said,“I have been transferred from the PCR accounts section three months ago,and have no clue regarding such an allegation against me.”

Following Kumar’s letter,Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal forwarded the case to the Crime Branch (Prashant Vihar),and demanded a reply in 10 days. The Crime Branch began its inquiry in the first week of September.

Kumar,meanwhile,was suspended. “I was suspended by the department on the pretext of absenteeism,” he said.

The initial inquiry led to the suspension of the three head constables named in the case last week. Accused Abhey Singh subsequently committed suicide on September 21.

Joint Commissioner (PCR) Satendra Garg pleaded ignorance. “I have not heard about it yet. I will look into the matter,” he said.