By Afroz Alam Sahil, TwoCircles.net
Already under scanner for charges of financial embezzlement and misuse of authority, the Director of Centre for Cultural Resources and Training in New Delhi, G C Joshi is again under suspicion for siphoning funds through Cultural Talent Search Scholarship.
The allegations are quite serious. It is alleged that a contractual employee of CCRT diverted the funds of scholarships in the account operated by himself and his relatives. The funds were not transferred on time in the accounts of beneficiaries. It is also alleged that the whole episode took place in connivance with Director, CCRT G C Joshi.
A police case has been registered in this regard at Sector-9 Police Station of Dwarka for detailed investigation after a priliminary inquiry by cyber crime cell.
The scam appears to be on lines of Srijan Scam in Bihar.
Joshi however denied all the allegations. “All these charges are fabricated and when the report reaches me, I will answer. You can contact the ministry in this regard,” he said.
A former Deputy Director of CCRT Sylvestor Ba however has lodged complaint regarding this illegal transfer of scholarship funds in Prime Minister’s Office with reference number PMOPG/F/2017?0301596.
In an internal enquiry in this regard the whole episode was unearthed. Crores of rupees were transferred to the account of relatives of Deputy Director and even the Director. Sadly, still no action has been taken in this regard. This is when Director Joshi is facing the heat of financial embezzlement in other cases also.
Culture Ministry has however formed a three member committee for submitting its report by 5 October. The Canara Bank too has been directed to freeze all such accounts where funds have been transferred.
Even in an internal inquiry, the Director of CCRT has admitted of a scam to the tune of Rs 50 lakhs but Sylvestor claims that the scam is of crores. The amount shown is less as those who ar einvolved in scam are themselves probing the case. An independent probe by Culture Ministry should be done.
To recall, CCRT offers a national level Cultural Talent Search Scholarship. The aim of this scholarship to support talented children between 10-14 years of age. A sum of Rs 3600 per candidate is given annually. CCRT offers 650 such scholarships annually. Among these 100 scholarships are reserved for tribal culture, 125 for traditional art form, 20 for differently abled, 30 scholarships for creative writing while 375 are for general categories.