Rs 40 crore misused in AP scame

Hyderabad, Apr 8 (UNI) With the arrest of an official in Andhra Pradesh Education Department for the alleged misuse of Rs ten crore in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Government has assessed, in its preliminary investigation, that entailed Rs 40 crore at least.

According to official sources here, internal assessment by the SSA said there were no accounts for Rs 40 crore utilised under Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Programme (APEP), District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and SSA scheme.

The SSA officials took up an internal assessment of funds and exposed the scam. The Centre also sent a note to the SSA office alleging that there were several discrepancies and irregularities in the balance sheet and ordered return of the unutilised funds.

The officials confirmed that they had so far traced Rs ten crore out of Rs 40 crore, siphoned off by the two scamsters Mr Subramanyam and advertising agency owner Ms Sarasa Devi, who have already been arrested and sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

As many as 17 accounts operated in 11 banks by the scamsters were frozen and three lockers were unearthed.

The Government had set up a departmental inquiry, headed by State Primary Education Secretary Krishnaiah to find out the involvement of the other officials in the scam.

UNI