Gajraula: The Sugar Department has initiated steps to recover funds from two former officials involved in a large-scale embezzlement case dating back three years. Pritam Singh, a former senior sugar development inspector of the Gajraula Sugar Development Council, and Ashish Saini, a dismissed clerk from the DCO office, are set to repay the misappropriated amount of approximately ₹4.75 crore. Department officers have written to the ADM Finance and Revenue seeking assistance in the recovery, reports Amar Ujala.
Three years ago, Pritam Singh and Ashish Saini were accused of embezzling close to ₹4.75 crore. At the time, Saini was responsible for the Chandanpur Sugar Development Council. Following a complaint, the then Deputy Sugar Commissioner of Bareilly division formed a three-member inquiry team, which confirmed the embezzlement.
After the findings, Pritam Singh filed a report against Saini. Based on substantial evidence, the police arrested Saini on March 17, 2023, and sent him to jail. Subsequently, both the departmental and police investigations proceeded in parallel.
The investigation revealed collusion between Pritam Singh and Saini. As a result, the sugar department took action, transferring the then DCO Hemendra Pratap Singh to Lucknow and assigning the SCDI (Sugar Cane Development Inspector) to Kasganj. Ajay Singh, DCO of Moradabad, was given additional responsibility for Amroha and appointed head of the inquiry team. However, allegations arose that he misled senior officials by maintaining close ties with Saini. Consequently, he was suspended, and the then Sugar Commissioner Sanjay S. Bhusreddy reassigned him within his office.
Meanwhile, the SCDI was suspended by the Additional Chief Secretary (Sugar Industry) and transferred from Kasganj to the Deputy Sugar Commissioner office in Bareilly. Both officials were later dismissed.
Now, the department is preparing to recover the embezzled funds from them. SCDI Ram Jeevan stated that a formal letter has been sent to the ADM Finance and Revenue to initiate the recovery process.
