Six people who were arrested in connected to an alleged scam to the tune of Rs 105 crore in Assam's State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), were produced before a special judge court here on Thursday.
The arrested persons are Rajesh Joshi, a Congress party leader, Lakhinarayan Sonowal, Jayanta Lahkar, Ramizuddin Ahmed, Saranga More and Rubul Ali.
The Special Vigilance Cell of the Chief Minister had arrested them on Wednesday.
Joshi is the son-in-law of suspended SCERT Director-in-Charge Sewali Devi Sarma, while Sonowal is the retired SCERT Deputy Director.
The other three detainees are SCERT employees.
All of the suspects in the case were taken into custody following a protracted interrogation that began on Wednesday morning. They were all thereafter sent for medical evaluations.
Sewali Devi Sarma, who was suspended recently, was the target of a search operation by the Vigilance Cell. However, she reportedly fled to avoid being apprehended.
Ajit Paul Singh, another relative of Sarma, was also found to be missing from his home.
The alleged 105-crore SCERT scam, according to sources, entails spending money under the guise of providing a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) course through the Open Distance Learning (ODL) system.
The purported financial violations allegedly occurred between 2017 and 2022.
According to the sources, Sarma awarded majority of the contracts to her relatives, including her in-laws. Many of these companies' Goods and Services Tax (GST) numbers were fraudulent.
Sarma is accused of moving money from the company's bank accounts to the accounts of other employees before taking cash out of those accounts.
Additionally, it has come to light that she broke rules and regulations by opening 347 centres for the D.El.Ed. course through Open Distance Learning (ODL), which is 288 centres more than what the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had authorised.
Allegedly bogus centres made up the majority of these.
The investigation, which is still ongoing, is anticipated to provide more information on the type of misappropriation and the degree to which other people were engaged.
Tripura demanded 20pc devolution of taxes in forests and ecology category: CM Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said, adding that keeping this in mind, the state government has sought 20 per cent devolution of taxes in the forests and ecology category to the 16th Finance Commission, which is now visiting the state.
Stage set for FM Sitharaman to present Budget 2025-26 tomorrow
The unveiling of the Economic Survey on Friday sets the stage for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Union Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday (February 1), which is expected to continue the government's policy of giving a big push to economic growth with equity.
CPI-M central committee member Jitendra Chaudhury re-elected as Tripura unit Secretary
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) central committee member Jitendra Chaudhury re-elected as party’s Tripura state Secretary in the three-day (January 29 to 31) 24th state conference of the Left party.
States should boost biz reforms to generate higher incomes for citizens: Eco Survey
States should focus on business reforms on a priority basis to achieve buoyancies in some industrial or service sectors, the Economic Survey 2024-25 said on Friday.
NCERT team seizes pirated textbooks in Agartala
Officials of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), along with Tripura Police, seized pirated NCERT books that were being sold to students in bookshops in Agartala, officials said on Friday.
Mamta Kulkarni's past haunts her, leads to expulsion from Kinnar Akhada
Actress Mamta Kulkarni, who ruled the 90s, has been expelled from the Kinnar Akhada. The designation of Mahamandaleshwar, which was given to the actress, has been revoked. The reason behind the same has been revealed to the actress’ past link to cinema, and her alleged criminal past.
Eco Survey suggests enhanced deregulation for MSMEs to boost growth
Faster economic growth is only possible if the Union and state governments continue to implement reforms that allow small and medium enterprises to operate efficiently and compete cost-effectively, said the Economic Survey 2024 on Friday.
Lifestyle choices, workplace culture key for mental well-being, productivity: Eco Survey
Lifestyle choices and workplace culture are critical for the mental well-being and thus, the productivity of the people in India, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday.