Eight Officials Convicted in Haridwar PWD Scam of ₹55 Lakhs

Conviction in PWD Fraud Case

Officials have reported that a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Dehradun has found eight individuals guilty in connection with a ₹55 lakh fraud case involving the Public Works Department (PWD) that occurred in Haridwar in 2003. According to a press release from the CBI, the court sentenced the accused on March 20, 2026. The convicted individuals include Deepak Kumar Verma (LDC), Madan Pal (Mate), Mani Ram (Belder), Surendra Kumar Kaushik (Driver), Qasim (retired Belder), Sukhal Singh (UDC), Chatar Singh (Roller Driver), and Palu Das (Assistant Treasury Officer, Haridwar), each receiving a two-year rigorous imprisonment along with a total fine of ₹2.85 lakh.

Background of the Case

The CBI initiated this investigation on August 9, 2003, following an order from the Uttarakhand High Court dated May 7, 2003. This order was issued in relation to a civil writ petition that directed the transfer of the investigation to the central agency. Allegations indicated that during the years 2001-2002, certain officials from the Haridwar PWD colluded with private individuals to issue and encash fake and unauthorized departmental checks, resulting in a fraudulent withdrawal of ₹55,10,511 from government funds.

Trial Developments

After the investigation concluded, the CBI filed a chargesheet on June 15, 2005, against 12 government employees and 8 private individuals. During the trial, four defendants—Ravindra Srivastava, Sukchand Tyagi, Dharmendra Kumar Bhatnagar, and Ilmchan—passed away, leading to the termination of proceedings against them. Additionally, seven other accused, including Rekha Negi, Poonam Verma, Pratibha, Sanjay Kumar, Chandravati, Rajpal, and Reena Srivastava, admitted their guilt and had already been convicted by a lower court.