GUWAHATI: As many as 34 officials of Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL) have been booked for allegedly siphoning off total Rs 1.94 crore since 2017 by forging medical referral certificates and reimbursement bills.
“From assistant general manager (AGM) to Grade-IV employees have been found involved in availing of medical reimbursements by forging signatures of the member of the state-level medical referral board, former chief general manager (human resource) and the managing director of APDCL. While the bills never reached the office of the CGM, HR and MD, the officials received the medical reimbursement amount,” an APDCL source said.
The company has so far recovered over Rs 90 lakh of the total funds siphoned off by its workers. The state-level medical referral board comprises Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) principal as the chairperson, GMCH superintendent as the member secretary and three members. A government official has to submit a medical referral certificate, approved by the medical board along with the medical reimbursement bills, to their respective departments.
Of the 34, one is AGM, two are junior engineers and others are Grade-III and Grade-IV employees. The source said a departmental inquiry has been initiated to unearth further linkages and nab the kingpin in the department.
“The kingpin must be in the department, who forged the signatures. We have sent the documents to the forensic and are waiting for the results.”
Investigating officer Omar Faruk said: “A probe is underway into the case. No one has been arrested so far.”
The scam came to light after the GMCH authority filed three separate FIRs against 41 officials of APDCL, department of elementary education and finance department at the Bhangagarh police station. A case has been lodged against all 41 accused under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (use of a forged document or electronic record as genuine) and 472 (making or possessing counterfeit seal with intent to commit forgery) of the IPC.
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