The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested a retired headmaster of a government school and an official, who has been relieved from office, on charges of embezzling the salaries of school staff for nearly five years to the tune of Rs. ₹36,67,601, for their personal gain.

A case in this regard was registered following a complaint filed by the then District Education Officer, Jalandhar. The two have evaded arrest for the past four years.

The arrested accused have been identified as retired director Gurmel Singh and dismissed clerk Sukhwinder Singh. Both were posted at Government High School, Talwandi Madho, District Jalandhar.

A VB spokesman said: “During the investigation it was found that both accused in connivance with each other embezzled funds for three years (2015-2017) released for school staff salaries. The accused submitted ₹35,81,429 as monthly payments into the accounts of their four relatives, showing them as teachers in the school.”

“Furthermore, the clerk had filed ₹86,172 (from 2013 to 2015) with forged signatures of Satpal Singh, then Drawing and Paying Officer at Government Higher Secondary School, Nihaluwal, District Jalandhar, on account of his relatives,” the spokesperson added.

An FIR has been registered under Sections 409, 420, 120-B of the IPC and under Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Shahkot Police Station, Jalandhar against the Director, Clerk and their relatives . Satnam Singh, Amritpal Singh, Ranjit Kaur Warraich and Gurvinder Kaur.

The arrested accused will be brought to court on Monday.

“The accused relatives will be arrested soon. An investigation into this case is open,” the spokesman said.