Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 15: A major embezzlement worth over Rs 1.32 crore has surfaced in the distribution of ration by Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department in Leh district of Ladakh region.
According to official sources, rice worth crores of rupees meant for distribution among the poor people of this hilly and far-flung area is missing from Skalzangling Store of FCS&CA Department in Leh in Ladakh region and two officials of the Department namely Mohammad Afzal Khan and Mohammad Jan are involved in it.
Sources said that 5430.32 quintals of rice worth Rs 1,32,75,800.00 meant for public distribution is missing in the Skalzangling store of Leh district.
The FCS&CA has ordered the Departmental inquiry into the embezzlement and also placed the two store keepers under suspension pending inquiry, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Avny Lavasa told Excelsior.
She said the two storekeepers are involved in the pilferage for last three to four years and the Department has ordered a probe into the matter. Both the store keepers have been put under suspension pending inquiry, she added.
Sources said that after the reports of shortage of thousands quintals of rice surfaced, the Assistant Director FCS&CA Leh constituted a Committee to conducted physical verification of stores in the month of July this year. The Committee on physical verification of stores found shortage of 4912.32 quintals of rice short in store number 1 while the earlier verification conducted two years back had found 518 quintals of rice short in store number 2.
The Committee accordingly submitted its report to concerned AD for further action at his end.
The concerned AD on finding huge difference between opening and closing balance vide his letter number FCS&CA/shortage/FG/2017-18/539-46 dated 28-08-2017 asked the concerned storekeepers to remit the outstanding amount in Government treasury. The Department later placed the two officials under suspension and handed over the charge to other two officials.
The officials were asked to submit their handing over and taking over charge duly countersigned by the concerned TSO to AD’s Office Leh.
The verification report said that the quantity of 518 quintals of rice which was short from store number 2 has been found as difference in closing and opening balance of physical verification report during year 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 amounting Rs 12,95,000.00 (Twelve lakh and ninety five thousand).
However people in Leh demanded a thorough probe into the matter and unmasking all those involved in the scandal and putting the State exchequer to a heavy loss.
As there has been a growing public resentment against the Department, the people of Leh said it is a million dollar question that why the Department failed to take action against the store keeper or other concerned officials when 518 quintals of rice were found short during the physical verification in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
Putting a question mark on the role of the authorities of the Department also, the people of Leh demanded a thorough probe into the matter as to why the authorities maintained a stoic silence for two years and allowed the official to perform the job of storekeeper when there was already a shortage of over 500 quintals of rice from the store during his tenure.
This shows the nexus of store keepers with some higher ups in the Department also and hence the matter be got probed thoroughly, they added.
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