Journalism of Courage
Pune police have arrested the accounts officer at the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) office in Wanavdi and booked three others,including two Army officers of the rank of Major,for an alleged fraud of Rs 37 lakh.
The arrested man was identified as S Ravi Subramanium (37) of Ashok Nagar,Handewadi Road in Hadapsar. He allegedly stole passwords of computers for the fraud. Police identified the other three suspects as
S Rambabu (39) of Chitragupta complex,Bhavani Peth,Major Ambikeshkumar and Major Kekannan,both from the military hospital in Assam.
Pavankumar Babulal Agarwal,senior accountant at PCDA,lodged the case at Wanavdi police station. Police booked the suspects under section 420 (cheating),34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 43 (a),66,66 (c ) of the IT Act.
Wanavdi police produced Subramanium before the Cantonment court on Wednesday. Police submitted to the magistrate court that the suspect misused his computer system and stole passwords of computers of two accountants Pankaj Nayak and M D Naik in TA/ DA section-4. Using these he allegedly conspired with Major Ambikeshkumar and Major Kekannan to prepare travel claim bills in their name,sanctioned these bills,released cheques accordingly and through the bank,deposited Rs 37,04,576 in their salary accounts through online transfer.
Police said the two allegedly transferred Rs 10,01,100 to accounts of Subramanium and his family members. They transferred Rs 1,99,000 to the account of S Rambabu,a wanted suspect in the case. Police said misappropriation took place between July 2012 and May 2013. During an inquiry by Military officials,the suspect reportedly admitted to the crime and Rs 14 lakh was recovered.
Assistant public prosecutor Panditrao Jadhav sought 14 day police custody of Subramanium. The court granted custody till July 19. Police inspector Vijaykumar Savant is investigating the case.
