Ranipet: Principal District Judge V Thenmozhe sentenced a correspondent and a headmistress of a govt-aided private school to undergo four years of rigorous imprisonment on charges of fabricating school records to falsely show an inflated student strength to receive govt benefits. The judge also slapped a penalty of ₹35,000 on Vitva Ratna Villa govt-aided primary school correspondent Karunagara Sanjeev Doss and ₹40,000 on headmistress Alice Thabitha Vijay Kumari.According to the prosecution, Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption sleuths, Vellore detachment, along with inspection cell officers, conducted a surprise check at Vitva Ratna Villa govt-aided primary school and found that the correspondent and headmistress had allegedly fabricated school records to falsely show an inflated student strength.While the actual number of students was lower, the records falsely reflected a total strength of 259 students, including 187 excess (non-existent) students. Based on the inflated student strength, the accused allegedly secured the appointment of six excess teaching posts and obtained corresponding govt benefits, including salary for the excess teachers and noon meal allocations. Consequently, the govt exchequer suffered a wrongful loss of ₹4.67 lakh towards salary and ₹2,762 towards noon meal provisions.
