PANAJI
A sophisticated financial fraud has shaken India’s flagship education program, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, after nearly Rs 5 crore in Goa government funds meant to support primary education were illicitly siphoned from official accounts.
The scheme -- which came to light only after a vigilant bank manager/staff flagged unusual transactions -- has raised serious questions about financial oversight and possible complicity or negligence of government officials.
While one person -- a garment businessman from West Bengal -- has been arrested by the police, the kingpin behind the operation is still at large.
Sources confirmed that the fraud came to light only after the intervention of an alert bank manager/staff at a private bank headquartered in West Bengal, pointing to suspicious transactions linked to the SSA account.
“The bank staff noticed large deposits and cheque clearances in the name of SSA Goa being routed through a personal account. By the time SSA officials were informed, around Rs 5 crore had already been siphoned off,” a department source revealed to The Goan.
The arrested man reportedly told police that his account was used without his full knowledge and stated that he had been facing financial ruin since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One person promised to offer him a loan for his business but insisted on access to his account. Once details were handed over, cheques amounting to nearly Rs 2 crore were deposited with SSA's name allegedly on the cheques. This aroused suspicion at the bank,” the source said, quoting the interrogation. "His confession to the police is also under scrutiny."
The police are now on the lookout for the alleged mastermind who not only accessed SSA’s nationalized bank account but reportedly changed the registered mobile number, to divert all transaction alerts to himself.
