RTE scam: FIR ordered against former DEO GR Chandrakar

Now preparations for action begin in the case of embezzlement of Rs 76 lakh during the Congress government.

Raipur. The state government has directed to register an FIR against former District Education Officer (DEO) of Raipur GR Chandrakar under the Right to Education Act (RTE) in a case of embezzlement of Rs 76 lakh. Current DEO of Raipur, Dr. Vijay Khandelwal has been ordered to immediately register an FIR and give information about this matter to the government. No concrete action was taken in this matter during the previous Congress government, but the government of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai is taking strict steps against corruption. On the orders of School Education Department Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi, Under Secretary RP Verma has issued instructions for action in this matter.

Investigation conducted thrice, role of former principal secretary doubtful

This matter was investigated thrice and the allegations were proved, but despite this, former Principal Secretary of School Education, Dr. Alok Shukla did not take any concrete action. Because of this, there is doubt over the role of the former Principal Secretary.

order of investigation of the case

1. First investigation: The then joint director SK Bhardhaj had conducted an investigation and found that some of the schools in whose accounts the RTE money was sent were non-existent and some had been closed for years. For example, Rs 21 lakh 38 thousand 367 was released to Upendra Chandrakar in the name of Srishti Public School and Rs 9 lakh 80 thousand 578 was released to the account of Chandrika Anant in the name of Saraswati Shishu Mandir Beldarsivani.
2. Second investigation: District Education Officer Office Raipur conducted investigation and sent the report to the Directorate. It was clarified how the amount was deliberately sent to the accounts of others. The manager of UCO Bank also confirmed this.
3. Third investigation: Sanjeev Srivastava, the then joint director of Samagra Shiksha, told in the investigation that the former DEO had made the payment from the section officer and Babu without the notesheet. On January 28, 2021, there were Rs 77 lakh 97 thousand 55 in the DEO's account, out of which Rs 76 lakh 42 thousand 203 were sent to the accounts of eight private schools the next day.

In this case, notesheet for release of funds was not prepared from the DEO office, and approximately Rs 66 lakh of 2019-20 was disbursed in 2020-21.