SCERT scam: Enforcement Directorate to begin probe into money laundering

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will soon start probing the money laundering angle and the benami property amassed by the accused in the multi-crore-rupee scam in the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (SVC) has written a letter to the ED in this regard. Sources said that the ED has collected all documents and evidences related to the case which had been submitted in the court. Two more arrests are likely to be made soon in the SCERT scam by the CM’s SVC, added sources.

Alleged financial anomalies and fund misappropriation to the tune of Rs 105 crore took place in SCERT, Assam in the name of offering Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) course under Open Distance Learning (ODL). The alleged financial irregularities took place between 2017 to 2022. After the allegations of financial anomalies surfaced, the Assam Government suspended IAS officer Sewali Devi Sarma, Secretary to the Assam Government, Agriculture Department. She was the then in-charge Director of SCERT, Assam. Sewali Devi Sarma was arrested from Ajmer in Rajasthan by the CM’s SVC.

Sources said that during the financial year 2017-18, SCERT fund to the tune of Rs 19,19,35,295 was allegedly misappropriated. During 2018-19, Rs 41,67,02, 618 was allegedly misappropriated; Rs 32,80,95,073 during 2019-20; Rs 1,27,71,673 during 2020-21 and Rs 57,39,208 during 2021-22 in the name of admission and exam conduct. Sources further said that in the name of supplying LCD screens to the ODL centres, Sewali Devi Sarma’s son-in-law had allegedly taken Rs 3,96,01,273. On the other hand, Sewali Devi’s daughter Bejeta Sarma had amassed Rs 4,39,86,700 for various printing works.

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