Investigating officer told to submit report within 15 days

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 30

Even as the district administration has suspended registration clerk Harpreet Singh in the alleged registration fee scam, Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam has asked the investigating officer to submit a report within 15 days.

District Revenue Officer, who is investigating into the embezzlement case, was directed to scrutinise the record of the past 15 years besides checking the authenticity of stamp papers attached with the documents while registering the properties. The initial probe conducted by the SDM-level officer has pointed out that around Rs 70 lakh were embezzled by the accused along with his accomplice, computer operator Jatinder Singh. Police officials have also started investigations in the fraud.

In absence of any record, the administration was finding it difficult to probe the matter threadbare. Harpreet Singh has not deposited the record with the authorities. Further, the record was also stated to be burnt during a fire in the sub-tehsil office. The officials said Harpreet had perhaps enacted the drama of fire to destroy the evidence against him. The administration has now summoned the land records from patwaris to ascertain the extent of fraud.