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NDTV
6 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
6 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.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
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. Assam: ED raids against former IAS officer in DA case 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 ₹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 of the SCERT and was responsible for the implementation of the National Council for Teacher Education's 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 ₹115 crore she received in fees from individuals, she allegedly spent more than ₹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 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 ₹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. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
