Team Herald
PANJIM: Porvorim Police investigating the alleged misappropriation of Rs 4.62 crore in central funds allocated to the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) suspect that the arrested accused, Rabin Paul, received a commission of approximately 10 per cent on each fraudulent bank transaction.
PSI Sitaram Malik, a member of the investigation team, stated that the fraud first came to light on 16 May when Dr Shambhu Ghadi, Director of Goa Samagra Shiksha, was alerted by a bank employee about a mismatch in the signature on a cheque presented for clearance. Dr Ghadi, who confirmed he had not issued the cheque, immediately rushed to the bank and, upon confirming irregularities, lodged a complaint with the Porvorim Police.
Preliminary inquiries revealed ten suspicious transactions occurred between 8 and 25 March 2025. While Rabin Paul has claimed that his bank account was used without his knowledge, police have expressed scepticism, citing the digital tracking available in modern banking systems. Paul, who was arrested in Barasat, West Bengal, is not believed to be a passive participant in the scam, according to investigators.
A specialised police team is currently following multiple leads, including the possible involvement of individuals based in Delhi and Bengaluru, where inquiries are ongoing. Though internal collusion has not been ruled out, PSI Malik said it was premature to speculate on the involvement of bank officials. “It is too early to draw conclusions, especially given developments still unfolding in Delhi,” he noted.
Under SSA protocols, staff payments are strictly processed via direct bank transfers and not through cheques. Authorities suspect the perpetrators may have gained unauthorised access to SSA’s account details, forged cheques, and replicated signatures — potentially with insider assistance from within the SSA system or the nationalised bank concerned.
Given the scale of the fraud, the Chief Minister is being kept regularly informed on the status of the investigation.