Jammu, Aug 28:
The Crime Branch has arrested a cashier of the Mechanical Division Jammu for large-scale misappropriation of government funds, following a complaint lodged by the Executive Engineer of the division.
The accused has been identified as Slocus Nar, son of David, resident of Old Rehari, Jammu.
He was serving as a Junior Assistant and posted as Cashier in the office of the Executive Engineer, Mechanical Division Jammu.
According to officials, the allegations of financial irregularities against Nar, who worked as cashier from 2008 to 2022, were found to be true during the investigation. It transpired that he committed criminal breach of trust and embezzled huge amounts of public money.
By misusing his official position, Nar allegedly manipulated entries in official records, treasury challans and the revenue remittance register.
The irregularities came to light during a departmental enquiry, after which the Chief Engineer placed him under suspension.
Confirming the arrest, Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Jammu, Benam Tosh, said that Nar has been booked in case FIR No. 79/2022 under sections 409, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 of the RPC, read with section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He added that further legal proceedings in the case are underway.
The arrest has once again raised concerns over accountability and internal monitoring mechanisms in government departments, as the alleged fraud continued unchecked for more than a decade.