Gangtok: Sikkim Vigilance Police on Tuesday arrested a Head Assistant of the Tourism Department, marking the fourth arrest in an ongoing probe into alleged cheating and misappropriation of monthly salary disbursements of the Gangtok District Zilla Panchayat (GDZP) and a Jal Jeevan Mission security deposit, the agency said.
Allegations and charges
The Vigilance probe, which began earlier this year after a written complaint from the GDZP Sachiva, has resulted in an FIR that names a number of government servants on charges including conspiracy, cheating and forgery. The agency said the alleged irregularities occurred during the period 2018–2025, when officials responsible for preparing monthly salary bills of the GDZP are accused of inflating salary amounts and forwarding fabricated payee lists to the bank for disbursement.
According to the Vigilance Police statement, the inflated amounts were credited to the bank accounts of the accused public servants. The sums involved are described by the agency as running into crores of rupees, though no precise total has been disclosed by investigators so far.
Latest arrest and seizure
The most recent arrest on 11 August involved a Head Assistant currently employed in the Tourism Department. The Vigilance team conducted a search at the accused's residence and said it seized materials considered incriminating and relevant to the investigation. The arrested official is being held in custody for further interrogation.
Earlier this year, the Vigilance Police had arrested two accountants in February, followed by a retired senior Accountant-cum-Drawing & Disbursing Officer in April, all alleged to have been involved in the fraudulent withdrawals.
Investigation timeline
The agency said its probe was triggered by the written complaint submitted by the GDZP Sachiva. Investigators allege a pattern of deliberate and repeated falsification of monthly salary bills, with inflated figures regularly forwarded for disbursement.
| Event | Date (2026) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint received | Earlier in 2026 | Written complaint from GDZP Sachiva triggered Vigilance probe |
| Arrests of two accountants | February | Charged with conspiracy and misappropriation |
| Arrest of retired DDO | April | Retired senior Accountant-cum-DDO apprehended |
| Arrest of Head Assistant | 11 August | Fourth arrest; searches conducted and materials seized |
Official stance and next steps
The Vigilance Police stated that the probe is ongoing and that further action will follow as the investigation unfolds. The arrested persons are being questioned and may face additional charges depending on evidence recovered during searches and bank transaction analyses.
Investigators will likely scrutinise bank records, salary registers and the purported payee lists submitted to the bank for disbursement. The agency did not provide figures for the total amount allegedly siphoned off, citing the continuing nature of the inquiry.
Implications for local governance
The case raises questions about internal controls in the disbursement process at the district level. Officials responsible for preparing salary bills and forwarding disbursement lists to banks are now under scrutiny, and the Vigilance action may prompt administrative reviews of payment authorization and verification procedures across panchayat administrations.
- Scope: Alleged irregularities in monthly GDZP salary bills and a Jal Jeevan Mission security deposit for 2018–2025.
- Arrests: Four government servants arrested so far — two accountants, one retired senior accountant/DDO and one Head Assistant.
- Status: Investigation ongoing; searches conducted and incriminating materials seized.
No departmental statements from the Tourism Department or GDZP were included in the Vigilance release. The Vigilance Police have not disclosed the names of the accused in their public statement. Further updates are expected as enquiries and forensic audits proceed.
