Records of 134 treasuries under SVO scrutiny on doubts of fake withdrawals

SUMIT SHARMA

JAMMU: Taking cognizance of the complaints that some government departments had withdrawn large amounts of money by preparing fake and fraudulent bills from treasuries, the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) took the records from all one hundred and thirty four (134) treasuries in the state for scrutiny. "We had sent a communication to the Directorate of the Accounts and Treasuries to hand over the records of withdrawal of amount by the government departments from 1 March to 15 March for scrutiny", said a SVO officer
Authoritative sources said that following the nod from the higher authorities, different teams of Vigilance sleuths were constituted for taking records from the respective treasuries numbering 134 for scrutiny.
Sources further said that during initial security, the SVO found that some of the government departments had submitted frivolous bills and withdrew the amount accordingly. The SVO found that the bills were submitted without citing the nature of work which has left a room for suspicion. Accordingly, the SVO rounded up the bills which went above 5 lakh. The SVO is shooting letters to the treasuries to sent the same to the respective departments seeking valid reasons of their expenditure. Sources said that the action on the part of the SVO has been taken to keep a check on the withdrawal of public money on fraudulent bills or vouchers, adding, the department started floating such bills at the end of the financial year as this is the time when the amount sanctioned by government is lapsed if not utilized for constructive purpose. "Yes, the scrutiny of the records is in progress and it is not appropriate to comment at this juncture", said a senior SVO officer when contacted by The News Now Pertinently, earlier also, the Treasuries hit the headlines after the State Government had acted upon one of the major recommendations made by the State Vigilance Commission (SVC), suggesting disbanding of all 134 treasuries in the State, New Delhi and Mumbai, most of which, it said, had become a source of corruption, and suggested alternate mechanism, which could be in place just by developing software in two to three months.