Gujarat school textbook board official accused of ‘cash-for-job’ scam

A letter addressed to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Education minister Kuber Dindor has alleged that the deputy director of Gujarat State Board of School Textbooks and two of his PAs are involved in a cash-for-job scam in the board.

The accused had allegedly collected ₹8 lakh from the complainant in two instalments. The education minister of Gujarat has now instructed the board’s director to investigate the matter.

The letter, sent by Gandhinagar’s Hitesh Ram, names Deputy Director (education) Kamlesh Parmar, and his two PAs, Dharmesh Ramanuj and Prakash Bhagchandani as accused.

As per the complaint, Ram gave ₹8 lakh to the accused for the post of Senior Clerk in the board, of which ₹5 lakh were transferred to Bhagchandani’s bank account on May 7, while ₹3 lakh in cash was handed over in a car near the board’s office. An additional payment of ₹15 lakh was to be made after the complainant secured the job.

As the complainant approached the office to procure the job order, he found out about Parmar’s post, and demanded his money back from the PAs. He was told off by them, saying that Parmar does not return money once paid.

Following that, Ram wrote to the CM and education minister about the bribe.

So far, no police complaint has been filed, and the investigation report is yet to be submitted. Till then, the possible-cash-for-job scam within the board will continue to rankle us.