UP clerk arrested for Rs 15 lakh fraud

A clerk posted at the district election office here has been arrested for alleged embezzlement of nearly Rs 15 lakh during the Uttar Pradesh assembly election earlier this year, police said today.

Wasee Ahmad, a resident of Rae Bareli, was booked under relevant sections of the IPC, said the SHO of Gauriganj police station, Aniruddh Singh.

Ahmad allegedly withdrew Rs 14,94,921 from the treasury on three occasions, citing election expenses, including payment for the vehicles used by the district administration during the polls, the SHO said.

"According to an investigation report, this money was used by him in personal interest and he filed fake bills and vouchers showing poll expenses. The matter came to light when vehicle owners complained that Ahmad was asking for bribe to clear their dues," the SHO said.

A team, including Gauriganj sub-divisional magistrate Moti Lal and additional magistrate Shailendra Tripathi, was formed by District Magistrate Yogesh Kumar to probe the matter, the SHO said.

Ahmad has been suspended and the administration was making efforts to recover the money, Singh added.

-PTI