A sub-divisional magistrate in Punjab has been arrested for allegedly embezzling Rs 1.63 crore related to a national highway project, highlighting concerns over corruption in land acquisition processes.
A sub-divisional magistrate posted in Punjab's Gurdaspur was on Saturday arrested in connection with the Rs 1.63 crore embezzlement of funds linked to the land acquisition for a national highway project in 2018-2019, police said.
Anupreet Kaur, a 2012-batch Punjab Civil Services officer, was held from her from her official residence in Gurdaspur. She was currently posted as SDM, Gurdaspur. She was also holding the charge of the municipal council, Gurdaspur.
Tarn Tarn Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Lamba confirmed that the officer has been arrested on Saturday.
The embezzlement came to light when Kaur was posted as SDM, Patti in Tarn Taran in 2018. She had been booked for allegedly being involved in the transfer of Rs 1.63 crore of land compensation to the five ineligible persons for the national highway-54 project, which connects Jammu to Rajasthan.
She had been placed under suspension for some time.
The case pertaining to embezzlement of funds was registered in 2019 under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code. The compensation amount was transferred to the accounts of five individuals whose land was never acquired for the national highway project.
There is another case against the SDM who was booked on the charges of embezzling Rs 88 lakh in 2021.