May 13: The Mulund police have filed a case of misappropriation of funds against a middle-aged cashier attached to the office of zone VI deputy police commissioner Sanjay Barve.

Arjun Gurayu, the absconding cashier, has been charged with siphoning off Rs 88,183 from the retired policemen's emoluments. The police suspected that Gurayu, working with the office for the last three years, misappropriated the funds in connivance with some of his colleagues.

The incident came to light when a retired head constable who was earlier attached to Mulund police station complained to DCP Barve about the unusual delay in getting the money of his leave encashment. Tamhankar, the head constable, retired from the services in 1995. Tamhankar was scheduled to receive Rs 26,690 a few months after his retirement, but the cashier never paid him the amount. Similarly, the cashier also siphoned off money meant to be given to some other police personnel.

The police treasurer has been forwarding the money to the office from time to time but the cashier never let the retired policemen know about it. The office cash book has entries of money being received, but nothing about how the money was spent.

Gurayu has been charged with section 409 of the Indian Pena Code . If proved guilty, he faces a maximum of 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.