Srinagar | June 28 : The divisional forest officer (DFO), Special forest division Tangmarg which was carved out from pirpanjal Division Budgam and JV forest division Baramulla in 2010, has come under the scanner over the non-transparency in maintaining the accounts.
The division has four different bank accounts with J&K Bank branch Tangmarg, each meant for separate purpose.
All is not well with the withdrawal of salary. The lack of internal control mechanism facilitated suspected embezzlement of one crore in special forest division, Tangmarg, reveals CAG report.
The matter was referred to government/ department in June 2015 reply thereof was not received.
“The amounts drawn are credited to the official salary bank account maintained with the J&K Bank. Subsequently salary advices are issued to the bank for credit of salary in personal accounts of the staff by debit to the official bank account. Details depicted in the form 39 should match with corresponding entries in from 39 (schedule of cheques drawn) to the extent of cheques drawn on account of salary,” reveals the report.
As per the bank statement of official account 24 of the division, Rs 49.77 lakh were withdrawn by the junior assistant of the division in the name through cheques during June 1, 2010 to October, 24 2014.
Of these 15.64 lakh was drawn in cash on self cheques and 34.12 Lakh was transferred to his personal bank account, apart from this, temporary/ forest advance of Rs 3.46 lakh was paid (June 2012 to June 2014 ) to the junior assistant. This too was drawn in cash/ transferred to his personal account.
The CAG report says that the audit noticed that his amount was reflected in the books of accounts. “All cheques issued from salary account above one lakh were credited to personal account of the junior assistant.”
Furthermore, Rs 13.43 lakh was payable to junior assistant on account of salary from March 2010 to October 2014 and that excess amount credited to his account alongwith credit of 5.58 lakh made to 25 employees and arrear claim of Rs 1.17 lakh would be got verified by the committee constituted for the purpose. (PTK)