Kolkata, 02 September (H.S.) :

A headmaster in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, has been suspended after serious allegations of financial irregularities, including the embezzlement of nearly ₹35 lakh from school funds and unauthorized overseas travel.

According to official sources, Anjan Das, acting headmaster of Mallikpur Abdas Sakuur High School, was suspended by the disciplinary committee of the School Education Department following multiple complaints. Allegations include misuse of development funds, non-conduct of audits for the past 4–5 years, and unauthorized expenditure on painting, furniture, and other works.

Subhasis Sahu, president of the school’s managing committee, said, “The headmaster has been suspended on charges of financial misappropriation. He misused various school funds, even siphoning off money from bills related to question paper printing. Since 2020, he has systematically diverted an estimated ₹30–35 lakh.”

Assistant teacher Kumaresh Mondal added, “The funds meant for development projects were misused in various ways. Despite repeated demands, he failed to produce proper accounts. DI officials also did not receive satisfactory documents. In many cases, inflated bills were shown — for instance, expenses of ₹100 were claimed for work worth only ₹10.”

Another teacher, Uma Prasad Mondal, alleged that Das kept colleagues in the dark about fund utilization. “When questioned, he told us we had no right to demand accounts. We even wrote to the president, but no proper response was given. Later, complaints were made to the District Magistrate, the Commissioner of Education, and RTI applications were filed. During the lockdown, significant amounts of money were misappropriated,” he said.

Repeated attempts to contact the suspended headmaster went unanswered.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh