Administrative inquiry into missing cashbooks

Bhopal, Oct 5: An administrative inquiry has been ordered into the mysterious disappearance of 14 cashbooks -- linked to about Rs 20 crore worth of accounts between 2000 and 2006 -- even as auditing is underway at the Madhya Pradesh government's protocol office, which is under the general administration department's jurisdiction.

Assistant Protocol Officer Rajesh Gupta has lodged a complaint at Jehangirabad Police Station. It is believed that the theft took place on a holiday.

''Principal Secretary (Commercial Tax) G P Singhal has been appointed the investigating officer,'' Principal Secretary (General Administration) Khushiram told UNI yesterday.

No departmental official will be allowed to henceforth take a file home without permission.

Inspector-General (Bhopal Range) Sanjeev Kumar Singh conducted discussions with the department's officials.

Sources said that the protocol office has an annual budget to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore.

Protocol Officer Basant Kurre and his predecessor Rajesh Mishra, who is now a deputy secretary in the chief minister's secretariat, are likely to be questioned.

UNI