Burdwan, 5 June (H.S): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started investigation into the embezzlement of about Rs 1 crore 94 lakh from Burdwan University. The ED has written a letter to the zonal manager of the government bank in which the university's money was deposited. Investigation has been started under the Money Laundering Act. A few days ago, ED Assistant Director Mukesh Kumar had written a letter and sought information from the bank. As per information, bank officials were summoned to the ED office. According to ED sources, information about their accounts has been sought from three bank officials. Information about movable and immovable assets of the officials from 2021 to 2024 has been sought. The ED has also asked about three accounts deposited in the bank under the Fixed Deposit Scheme. The ED has also sought information about the circle head and deputy circle head of the Station Bazar branch of the government bank in Burdwan city and the approval taken from the seniors for withdrawal of the university's money before the expiry of the deadline. With the start of investigation by the ED into the university's money embezzlement case, a section of employees is seeing a ray of hope. They believe that the real information about corruption will come to the fore in the ED investigation.

According to sources, on February 6, 2024, an application was given to withdraw the money deposited in a fixed deposit scheme before the expiry of the term in a government bank branch in Bara Bazar area of Burdwan city. The letter asked to deposit the money in the account of a contractor company instead of the university's savings account. After seeing the letter, the bank officials got suspicious. The bank asked the university about the letter. The university told the bank that no such letter has been given. After that a complaint was lodged by the bank at the Burdwan police station. After the matter came to light, the university officials wrote letters to various banks asking about the status of the deposit. At that time it was found that Rs 1 crore 93 lakh 89 thousand 876 was withdrawn from the Station Bazar branch of the state-owned bank before the expiry of the term. That money was not deposited in the university account. After that the university registrar lodged a complaint at the Burdwan police station. The police arrested a university employee while investigating. The CID has filed a chargesheet in this case. It contains the names of 10 people including Bhakta Mandal, senior assistant of the university's finance department. They have not been arrested yet. The chargesheet also contains the names of three officials of a government bank. Now the Enforcement Directorate has also initiated an investigation into the matter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey