CBI begins probe into fund fraud by Dharmapuri railway staff

The CBI has started a probe into a suspected embezzlement of railway fund to the tune of Rs 42 lakh by a junior clerk working in Dharmapuri and a goods guard in Bengaluru under south-western railway during the period between the year 2013 and 2016. The suspects were identified as Govindaraju, junior clerk, office of senior section engineer, Dharmapuri and P Basavaraju, goods guard at Whitefield, Bengaluru. The two were booked for criminal conspiracy, cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery for purpose of cheating and criminal misconduct. 

According to the FIR registered by anti-corruption branch of the CBI, Bengaluru, on Monday both the railway employees were involved in the fraudulent activities while working in their previous postings. Govindaraju was working as a junior clerk at the office of senior divisional manager, south western railway, while Basavaraju was working as a peon in the office of traffic inspector, Dharmapuri when they reportedly committed the crime.

The two along with unnamed railway officials fraudulently and dishonestly fabricated false and forged bills towards educational allowances, tuition fees and hostel subsidy etc in the name of various employees working in Bengaluru – Salem section under Bengaluru division of south western railway. The suspects had fabricated bills / receipts in the names of non-existent educational institutions. 

The CBI had unearthed fake bills and receipts generated in the name of 59 railway employees, who were working in Dharmapuri, Salem and Hosur jurisdictions without their knowledge or consent by the suspect to claim around Rs 42.24 lakh. 

The two had processed such claims, sanctioned, disbursed the claim amount to the accounts of the victims who were later induced to withdraw and give to the suspects.