Accused now have an option to go to High court
Hyderabad, June 11, 2007In a sensational scholarship scam involving embezzlement of funds worth over Rs. 50 crore, a special court on Monday convicted 18 persons of the 35 accused persons. All the convicts were sentenced to undergo ten year imprisonment except one D Swaroopa Rani who was handed down a five year jail term. The court also imposed fines ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000 on the convicts.
According to the then prevailing system, every educational institution would approach the District Social Welfare Officer concerned and submit a list of candidates requiring scholarships. The DSWO would direct the Assistant Social Welfare Officer (ASWO) to verify the applications and he would go to to the educational institutions and physically verify the students, ascertain their identity and forward the applications to the DSWO who used to issue the sanction orders. These orders are sent to Pay and Accounts Office and subsequently the cheques are issued in the names of the principals and headmasters of the schools. They would in turn deposit the money in the bank and draw the funds and will distribute the money to the students.
The detective Inspector S Sharat Kumar who investigated the case said R Mothya Naik, Warden in Social Welfare Department was very familiar with the procedure of sanctioning of scholarships by virtue of job. He floated 17 bogus colleges and eight schools, while Shankararao floated another five fake colleges. All of them submitted the applications for scholarships in the name of the students that never existed.
Join Discussions on AndhraNews.com
