CBI arrests three UP officials for MNREGA fraud

Three officials of a civic body in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh have been arrested by CBI for their alleged involvement in embezzlement of over Rs Rs 68 lakh under centrally-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the state.
The agency has alleged that Pradeep Kumar, the then Engineer and apar mukhya adhikari, Pradeep Jaiswal the then Chairman Zila Panchayat and Vijay Agarwal, ward member of Zila Panchayat-- all from Kushinagar-- had misappropriated Rs 68.97 lakhs (approx) under the scheme.
"A case was registered on February 21, 2014 on the orders of Allahabad High Court relating to alleged misappropriation of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in construction of culvert over Rohua Nala in Khadda Block of Kushinagar for a sum of Rs 68.97 lakhs (approx)," CBI spokesperson said here today.

The accused were produced today before a Special Court at Lucknow and remanded in 14 days of judicial custody, the spokesman said.