Dehradun CBI Court Sentences Eight Officials to Jail in ₹55 Lakh PWD Fraud Case
DEHRADUN, March 21, 2026 — In a significant crackdown on administrative corruption, the Special CBI Court in Dehradun has sentenced eight public officials to two years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in a ₹55 lakh fraud within the Public Works Department (PWD).
The convicted individuals, who held various positions ranging from Assistant Treasury Officer to drivers and clerks in Haridwar and Roorkee, were also ordered to pay a collective fine of ₹2.85 lakh. This sentencing concludes a long-standing legal battle that began over two decades ago following allegations of financial irregularities and the embezzlement of government funds through forged departmental cheques.
The roots of the case trace back to the years 2001–2002, when officials within the PWD Haridwar and Roorkee divisions allegedly colluded with private individuals to illegally withdraw ₹55,10,511 from the state exchequer.
Following an order from the Hon’ble High Court of Uttarakhand in May 2003, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe, officially registering the case in August 2003. The investigation revealed a sophisticated scheme involving the issuance and encashment of unauthorized and forged cheques.
By June 2005, the CBI had filed a comprehensive charge sheet naming 12 public servants and 8 private individuals as part of the fraudulent network.
Throughout the extended trial period, the case saw several developments, including the death of four accused individuals—Ravindra Shrivastava, Sukhchand Tyagi, Dharmendra Kumar Bhatnagar, and Ilamchan—which led to the abatement of proceedings against them.
Additionally, seven other accused persons had previously pleaded guilty and were convicted in separate proceedings. In this latest and final judgment, the court convicted the remaining eight officials, including Palu Das (Asst. Treasury Officer), Deepak Kumar Verma (LDC), and several technical staff members. While the officials face rigorous jail time, the court acquitted one private individual, Pradeep Kumar Verma, of all charges due to a lack of evidence.