Probe unveils Rs25m corruption scandal

Recommends recovery of embezzled funds from Battagram edu dept officials

BATTAGRAM:

An alleged corruption scandal involving Rs25 million has surfaced in the education department of Battagram.

According to sources, the case is related to the procurement of school textbooks and an investigation has been completed.

Meanwhile, the directives for immediate recovery of the embezzled amount have caused panic within the department.

Over the past four years, the education department ordered 450,000 additional textbooks. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the number of schools was overstated to justify the demand for these extra books, leading to an embezzlement of Rs25 million.

The provincial government, upon uncovering this corruption, has instructed the department to recover the embezzled funds immediately. Sources indicate that several officers are allegedly involved in this scheme and may face demotion along with the recovery process.

To evade consequences, these officers are reportedly attempting to shift the blame onto head teachers, coercing them to partake in the recovery efforts. The head teachers are being pressured to agree to a monthly salary deduction of Rs1,000 to cover the embezzled amount.

In response, the teachers have vehemently rejected the accusations from the education department officials. They argue that they should not bear the burden of recovery for a crime they did not commit. The teachers have stated that they neither participated in nor benefited from the embezzlement of school books.

They emphasise that accurate records of student numbers are maintained in the education offices, making it impossible for teachers to demand more books than necessary. They believe the manipulation of the demand list was orchestrated by individuals within the education office itself.

The situation remains tense as the recovery efforts continue, and the implicated officers try to deflect responsibility.