An audit of the taluka health office accounts in Rajkot has led to the filing of a criminal case for the misappropriation of Rs 16.59 lakh. The police have booked an outsourced junior clerk after an inquiry revealed that fake vouchers were used to divert government funds during the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
FIR Registered Against Junior Clerk
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Paresh Chauhan and others who may be incriminated at Pradyumna Nagar police station by Dr Jayesh Popat, 52, the taluka health officer and in-charge administrative-cum-accounting officer at the Rajkot Taluka Health Office.
Audit Reveals Irregularities
According to the complaint, an audit of local funds for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 financial years revealed that a substantial sum had been improperly transferred to the bank account of Chauhan, who was employed on an outsourced basis. The audit uncovered that the funds were diverted through fraudulent means.
Inquiry Committee Formed
Following the audit, the Rajkot taluka development officer formed an inquiry committee on July 10, 2025. The committee submitted its report on May 11, 2026, after a thorough investigation into the matter.
Findings of the Preliminary Inquiry
The preliminary inquiry found that Chauhan, while working as a junior clerk in the taluka health officer’s office, allegedly misused his position to create fake vouchers in the names of serving and retired employees. These forged vouchers were then used to transfer approximately Rs 16.59 lakh into Chauhan’s personal bank account, resulting in the misappropriation of government funds.
Ongoing Investigation
Police have stated that further investigation is underway to establish whether others were involved in the scheme and to trace the misappropriated money. Authorities are examining records and conducting interviews to uncover the full extent of the fraud.
