Police said the arrested computer operator claimed that Joshi and Kohli had fixed a commission for the scam (Representational) Police said the arrested computer operator claimed that Joshi and Kohli had fixed a commission for the scam (Representational) Months after a computer programmer who used to work at the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) was arrested for allegedly siphoning scholarship money meant for young children, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has arrested the centre’s former director and deputy director. According to police, the men were allegedly receiving kickbacks of the siphoned money. CCRT, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, is a training institution working to integrate education with culture. The scholarship scheme, which runs at the national level, gives Rs 12,600 a month to children in various artistic fields between the ages of 10-14. According to police, the two accused — former director G C Joshi and former deputy director Anil Kohli — are alleged to have been aware of the siphoning of scholarship money to the tune of Rs 50 lakh, and allegedly caused a loss to the exchequer after they transferred the money to bank accounts held by their associates. “Joshi and Kohli were arrested and sent to judicial custody. They were sending scholarship letters to the children and took their money instead. But when many children asked for their scholarship money, the accused would transfer the amount to some children, thereby causing double the loss to the exchequer,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) AK Singla. So far, the Crime Branch has arrested around a dozen men in connection with the scam, which was reported by The Indian Express on February 13. Police said they relied on a CCRT audit report, reported by The Indian Express on March 27, which said that Joshi was involved in irregularities when he was the director. After the report came to light, which recommended that Joshi step down from his post, CCRT Deputy Director (Finance) Kohli was also suspended. “Authorities found serious negligence and dereliction of duty, resulting in considerable losses to the Government of India in the matter of payment of scholarship amounts,” said the CCRT’s March 24 order. Joshi had initially filed a complaint with Delhi Police, stating that scholarships meant for children were siphoned. Joshi told police that CCRT computer operator Sandip Kumar allegedly siphoned the money and transferred it to his family members’ bank accounts. “Joshi was under immense pressure to file the FIR after the audit report mentioned his name,” said a crime branch officer. Police said the arrested computer operator claimed that Joshi and Kohli had fixed a commission for the scam. “But after demonetisation, a dispute arose over the commission due to lack of currency in banks, following which Sandip was terminated from his post,” claimed a police officer. Joshi joined CCRT in 1981 as a junior accountant, after graduating from DU in 1977. He also studied at the University of Michigan after he was awarded a scholarship for Art History. In 2011, he was made the CCRT director. Kohli also joined CCRT as a junior accountant after completing BCom (Hons) from DU in 1979. For all the latest Delhi News, download Indian Express App

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