According to highly placed sources, the scam is worth Rs 69 lakh and was committed between May and September. Those suspended include plantation officer of Umred SS Supe, assistant plantation officer of Bhiwapur SR Gupta and clerk Sunil Bandekar (Bandebuche) at SFD's Dharampeth office. Interestingly, Supe had been suspended on three occasions earlier.
The suspension orders of the three were issued on Thursday by joint director of social forestry RN Rai. He did not respond to the repeated calls made to him. The scam is just a tip of the iceberg and many more skeletons may tumble out of the SFD's cupboard.
The irregularities were first brought to fore by new incumbent Abdul Salam who was posted in Umred in place of Supe. On September 6, Supe did not hand over charge to Salam. Following this, he took over charge as PO on his own on September 24.
Reviewing the inventory after taking charge, Salam found that there were many irregularities in EGS works and material procured under the scheme. Salam found that wages were not paid to labourers engaged in nursery. Besides, soil and fertiliser procured for the nursery were not only less in quantity but also of inferior quality.
The matter was reported to the joint director on November 1, and an inquiry was conducted by deputy director of Chandrapur Division DP Nikam. Preliminary probe has found involvement of all the three employees in the scam and hence the suspension. Sources said the inquiry is still going on.
Sources said the then deputy director, who is now posted at Chandrapur as planning officer, is also likely to face action for releasing payments minutes before being relieved of charge. The official is learnt to have released cheques worth Rs 78 lakh to plantation officers through bearer cheques despite being under transfer.
Supe admitted he was suspended but denied his involvement in the scam. He said Salam or Rai have no powers to conduct an inquiry. EGS irregularities can only be probed by the district collector or divisional commissioner.
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