Delhi Urban Shelter Board official suspended

Assistant Director (cash) of the board Purshottam Kumar has been suspended for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 3.51 crore, officials said.

Delhi Finance Minister A K Walia said financial irregularities were detected in several financial dealings involving the board, which was earlier functioning under the MCD as Slum and Jhughi Jhopri department.

The irregularities have been detected in the process of depositing charges which have been collected from the squatters over the years. Officials said an FIR has also been lodged at the Indraprastha police station.

It has been found that Kumar used to collect the charges from the squatters in cash or cheques. The cheques were deposited in an account maintained with the Central Bank of India whereas cash amount collected was not deposited in the bank and instead fake counterfoils with bank stamp were given to the squatters as proof of payment, the officials alleged.

Walia has directed the board to further study the old records thoroughly to know about the exact quantum of alleged embezzlement of funds. He also directed to stop all the transactions in certain saving bank accounts of the board.

Walia has further instructed the Board to be vigilant in further transactions. The Finance Minister also instructed that records relating to property allotment be computerised and reconciled on priority within a period of three months.