LUCKNOW: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches at 14 locations across five districts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the alleged embezzlement of government funds worth approximately Rs 4 crore in the basic education department in Amethi district.The searches were conducted by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the CBI, Lucknow, following the registration of a case pursuant to directions issued by the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench.According to the CBI, the case was registered on June 8, 2026, under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), after taking over the investigation of Crime No. 97 of 2025 registered at Gauriganj police station in Amethi district.The FIR was originally lodged on March 21, 2025, on the complaint of the Finance and Accounts Officer of the basic education department, Gauriganj, Amethi.The investigation was transferred to the CBI in compliance with an order dated May 25, 2026, passed by the Allahabad High Court in Writ-A No. 4920 of 2026, Shravan Kumar Dwivedi vs State of Uttar Pradesh and Others.The accused named in the case include Manoj Kumar Malviya, then Junior Accounts Clerk in the basic education department, Gauriganj; Abhishek Singh, block quality coordinator; Shivam Kumar Pandey, block MIS coordinator; Shravan Kumar Dwivedi, headmaster of primary school, Bechugarh, Jagdishpur; and Shailesh Chandra Shukla, assistant teacher at Primary School, Pure Shivdas Gudur, Gauriganj.According to the FIR, Manoj Kumar Malviya allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with the co-accused and other unidentified persons while serving as junior accounts clerk and dishonestly embezzled government funds by illegally diverting money from the government treasury into various bank accounts. The alleged misappropriation is estimated at around Rs 4 crore.After verifying the identities and addresses of the accused and other suspects, CBI teams conducted coordinated searches on Wednesday at 14 premises located in Lucknow, Ayodhya, Kushinagar, Pratapgarh and Amethi districts.During the raids, investigators reportedly seized incriminating documents relating to the alleged investment and utilization of the embezzled government funds. The agency also recovered digital devices and other materials considered relevant to the ongoing probe.CBI officials said the investigation is continuing to ascertain the full extent of the alleged financial irregularities and to identify any additional individuals involved in the conspiracy. No arrests had been announced till the filing of this report.
