Fund embezzlement scam surfaces at sub-treasury Trehgam;Detailed audit ordered

Financial irregularities to the tune of nearly Rs 90 lakh have been unearthed at sub-treasury Trehgam in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district by a special audit conducted by Accounts and Treasuries Department.
According to the official documents available with The Kashmir Monitor, the special audit of pension payments of sub-treasury Trehgam was conducted for a period from April 2017 to November 2017.
“The special audit on pension payments of treasury Trehgam highlighted some grave embezzlement committed by Assistant Treasury Officer, Trehgam in making fraudulent payment to pensioners,” the documents read.
The inspection team, as per the documents, has found “misappropriation embezzlement” of government money allegedly committed by the Assistant Treasury Officer, Trehgam, while making pension payments.
The documents say that inspection party observed “irregularities” in withdrawal verification, maintenance of NPS, cashbook, delay in uploading of NPS, non-maintenance of deposit registrar, and diversion of funds.
“The inspection party also observed double drawal of Rs 34,136 made by the Assistant Treasury Officer, Trehgam in respect of a pension payment in favour of Showkat whose pension case was already transferred to JK Bank Trehgam,” the documents read.
The Assistant Treasury Officer, Trehgam, according to the documents, has admitted to the “commission of crime” as he has deposited the “embezzlement” amount of Rs 86,48,900 in the treasury as reported by the inspection party.
Taking note of the audit report, Principal Secretary Finance Department, Navin K Chowdhary, has directed Director Audit and Inspections to conduct the detailed audit of the accounts of the treasury Trehgam.
“The commission of this magnitude of crime warrants disciplinary action against the Assistant Treasury Officer under rules. Now, therefore in view of the above, Assistant Treasury Officer, Trehgam is placed under suspension with immediate effect. He shall remain attached in the office of Director Accounts, and Treasuries Kashmir,” Chowdhary said in his order.
A senior official said that actual amount of embezzlement of funds will be known when the detailed audit gets completed.
“Action will be taken who so ever is involved in embezzlement of funds,” the official added.