CHANDIGARH, MAY 17 : A Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) posted in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district was arrested on Saturday in connection with an alleged Rs 1.63 crore embezzlement case related to land compensation meant for a National Highway project, police officials said.
The arrested officer, Anupreet Kaur, a 2012-batch Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer, was taken into custody from her official residence in Gurdaspur. She was presently serving as SDM Gurdaspur and was also holding additional charge of the Municipal Council, Gurdaspur.
Senior Superintendent of Police Tarn Taran, Surendra Lamba, confirmed the arrest and said the action was taken in connection with the long-pending embezzlement case registered in 2019.
According to officials, the alleged scam surfaced during Kaur’s posting as SDM Patti in Tarn Taran during 2018-19. She was accused of facilitating the illegal transfer of compensation amounting to Rs 1.63 crore to five ineligible individuals in connection with land acquisition for National Highway-54, a major project linking Jammu with Rajasthan.
Investigations revealed that the compensation money was transferred to persons whose land had never been acquired for the highway project. Following the allegations, the officer had earlier been placed under suspension for a certain period.
Police said the case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and investigations into the financial irregularities have been ongoing for several years.
Officials further disclosed that another case involving alleged embezzlement of Rs 88 lakh was also registered against the same officer in 2021.
Further investigation into the matter is underway.(KNC)
