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NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Probe Agency Conducts Raids In Money Laundering Case Against Ex IAS Officer In Assam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting search operations at eight locations across Assam today in connection with a money laundering case involving retired IAS officer Smt. Sewali Devi Sharma and others. Sewali Devi Sharma, who served as the Executive Chairman-cum-Director of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Cell of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), is accused of large-scale financial irregularities while implementing the National Council for Teacher Education's (NCTE) two-year Diploma in Elementary Education ( programme through distance mode. The Government of Assam had approved the programme for 59 recognized institutions with a total enrolment capacity of 27,897 government teachers. However, in violation of this approval, Sharma allegedly established 347 study centres and enrolled 1,06,828 trainees-nearly four times the permitted number-primarily to collect excess funds. Investigations have revealed that she opened five unauthorized bank accounts for the ODL Cell, where she was the sole signatory. In a blatant breach of the Assam Financial Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2005, Sharma allegedly diverted over Rs 115 crore received as fees from trainees into these accounts instead of depositing them in the government treasury. The ED suspects that more than Rs 105 crore was spent without following financial delegation rules, tendering procedures, or verifying supply and execution of works. Contracts were allegedly handed out to firms owned by close relatives-including her daughter and son-in-law-as well as associates like Sarang More, the ODL Cell's Chartered Accountant, without any competitive bidding process. Most of these entities reportedly lacked prior experience, and payments were made without proper documentation or verification. Initial police inquiry has indicated that Sharma may have amassed disproportionate assets worth over Rs 5.7 crore during the period under investigation. The ED searches are currently underway as part of efforts to trace the proceeds of crime and identify other beneficiaries involved in the alleged scam.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Assam: ED raids against former IAS officer in DA case
Guwahati: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday carried out searches at premises connected with retired IAS officer Sewali Devi Sharma in a disproportionate assets case, an official source said. The agency has raided at least eight premises connected with Sharma, a former executive chairman-cum-director of the Assam State Council of Educational Research and Training. The money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by the state police on the directions of the Assam CM's Special Vigilance Cell. Sharma was earlier chargesheeted by police for alleged possession of disproportionate assets worth Rs 5.7 crore. The former bureaucrat could not be contacted immediately for a comment on the ED action. Sharma, according to sources, served as the Executive Chairman-cum-Director of Open and Distance Learning Cell (ODL) of the SCERT and was responsible for the implementation of the National Council for Teacher Education's (NCTE) two-year Diploma in Elementary Education programme. The state government had earlier approved the creation of 59 institutions and the training of 27,897 teachers. Sharma is alleged to have opened 347 study centres and enrolled 1,06,828 trainees to "collect more funds." Sharma, the sources claimed, opened five bank accounts for the ODL Cell, where she was the "sole signatory," in "violation" of the Assam Financial Responsibility and Budget Management Act of 2005. Of the Rs 115 crore she received in fees from individuals, she allegedly spent more than Rs 105 crore without obtaining financial sanction from the state government, sources alleged. The expenditure was incurred for supplies and execution of works without following the rules and procedures, and payments were released without complete supply of materials, and no work was done, they claimed. These contracts, as per ED's probe, were given to entities owned or controlled by associates or family members (son-in-law, daughter) of Sharma as well as to a chartered accountant, Sarang More, who was the auditor of the ODL Cell. The contracts were awarded "without" advertisements or invitations for tenders, as stipulated by the government for each procurement of above Rs 5 lakh, sources alleged. Except for two parties, none had any experience to execute work orders awarded to them, and payments were made without the required receipts or verification of actual supply, the ED claimed.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Indian Express
Tripura girl dies by suicide after teacher scolds her; probe panel visits school
Days after a schoolgirl allegedly died by suicide after being scolded by her teacher in South Tripura district, a three-member committee investigating the incident visited her school in Belonia on Wednesday. According to sources, the teacher scolded the 15-year-old girl, accusing her of cheating in an exam and allegedly threw her answer script away on July 24. The girl died a day later. 'We have started our investigation to highlight the real side of the incident. We will also visit her home and talk to her parents. After that, we will submit our report to the higher authority, which will take a decision,' said a member of the committee that interacted with students and others at the school. Students protested at the school, demanding action against the teacher who had allegedly scolded the girl. Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is also the school education minister, ordered the investigation after the incident triggered a massive outrage on social media. Netizens highlighted central government directives, the Right to Education Act, and court guidelines that prohibit any form of corporal punishment and psychological abuse in schools. The chief minister's office had earlier said the three-member committee would submit its report by Wednesday. The committee members are Lisa Bardhan, Joint Director of Elementary Education; Kajal Kumar Bhowmik, Officer on Special Duty at the Directorate of Secondary Education; and Sudip Sarkar, Officer on Special Duty at the office of the District Education Officer, Tripura West.
