CBI court convicts three for EPF fraud

A special CBI court in Bhopal has convicted three officials of Employees Provident Fund Organisation in a graft and cheating case and sentenced them to five years of rigorous imprisonment for causing a loss of Rs 21.18 lakh to the organisation.
"The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Bhopal, has convicted Pratap Singh, the then Section Supervisor, Gajendra Singh Chouhan, the then LDC both of EPFO, Bhopal and Rajendra Singh Thakur(a private person) and sentenced them to undergo five years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine ranging from Rs seven lakh to Rs 8.50 lakh for causing a loss of Rs 21.18 Lakh (approx) to Employees Provident Fund Organization(EPFO)," CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

It was alleged that during the year 2001 to 2003, Chouhan had entered into a criminal conspiracy with his brother Thakur and other officials of EPFO, SRO, Bhopal.
"The accused fraudulently and dishonestly settled the PF claims in the name of persons who were not the members of EPFO. The accused committed offences of forgery, cheating, using forged documents as genuine in respect of final settlement and part payment and withdrawal of PF claims of various PF Accounts and caused a wrongful loss of Rs 21.18 lakh (approx) to EPFO," it said.
In another case, special CBI Judge in Visakhapatnam has convicted Nemana Jagannadham, the then Sub Post Master, in Vizianagaram District and sentenced him to undergo three years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs. 10,000 in a fraud case.

During the period from January 23, 2006 to September 24, 2007, Jagannadham cheated the depositors and defrauded the postal department to the tune of Rs 12.38 lakh by forging customers' signatures on withdrawal vouchers, it said.
In a separate case, Special CBI Judge in Ahmedabad has convicted Rameshbhai Khengardas Vankar, the then Storekeeper of ONGC, and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs. 10,000 for missing ethernet cards.