Lucknow/Ballia: A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Lucknow has convicted three accused, including the former Chief Finance & Accounts Officer (CFAO) of DRDA Ballia, in a high-profile case related to the Sampurna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). The court sentenced all three to five years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a total fine of ₹77,000.
According to the CBI, the accused caused a wrongful loss exceeding ₹1 crore to the government exchequer by misappropriating public funds under the rural employment scheme.
Those convicted
As per the CBI’s statement, the court on December 20, 2025, convicted the following:
- Satyendra Singh Gangwar, former Chief Finance & Accounts Officer, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Ballia
- Ashok Kumar Upadhyay, former Junior Accounts Clerk, DRDA, Ballia
- Raghunath Yadav, private individual
All three were awarded five years’ rigorous imprisonment.
Case background
The CBI registered the case on October 31, 2008, after taking over Case Crime No. 49B/2006 (EOW No. 244/06) initially registered at PS Garwar, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The original case named 135 accused persons. It was alleged that large-scale financial irregularities were committed under the SGRY, leading to significant losses to the public exchequer.
Modus operandi
CBI’s investigation revealed misappropriation involving:
- ₹75.12 lakh in cash, and
- Foodgrains worth ₹31.10 lakh
The agency stated that the losses were caused through cheating, forgery for the purpose of cheating, use of forged documents as genuine, and causing disappearance of official records.
Chargesheet and trial
After completing the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on June 30, 2010 against the three accused. Following a prolonged trial and detailed examination of evidence, the court found the charges proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Court’s findings
In its verdict, the court termed the misuse of funds meant for welfare schemes as a serious economic offence and held that the prosecution had successfully established the guilt of the accused. Accordingly, the sentences and fines were awarded.
The CBI said the judicial process stands concluded, and the court’s order regarding imprisonment and fines will be implemented as per law.
