Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh – Four education department employees face action after a large quantity of free government school textbooks was discovered being sold by a scrap dealer. The discovery prompted swift action from district officials.
Textbooks Recovered
District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi received a tip on February 17 . The tip indicated a local scrap dealer was transporting textbooks in a truck. Police intercepted the truck in Lakhimpur district. They recovered over 10 tonnes of textbooks. The books were intended for the 2026-27 academic session .
Documents found in the truck showed the books were sold by the scrap dealer to a firm in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. The Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Ashish Kumar Singh filed a complaint. An FIR was registered at Ramgaon police station. The charges are under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. The FIR names scrap dealer Dilshad Ahmad and truck owner Mohammad Aslam, along with others.
Investigation Underway
An administrative committee is investigating the matter. They are conducting a physical verification of textbooks. This verification is happening in six education department warehouses in Bahraich. Police are searching for the scrap dealer, who is currently absconding. Efforts are ongoing for his arrest.
Officials are working to determine the intended distribution area for the textbooks. It is unclear if they were meant for Bahraich or another district. District Magistrate Tripathi stated that questioning the accused dealer will reveal the source and destination of the books. The additional superintendent of police assured prompt arrest of the accused.
Personnel Action
BSA Singh confirmed that counting of textbooks is complete. A total of 13,595 books for free distribution in council schools are missing. Departmental attendants Shafiq Ahmad and Alok Kumar have been suspended. Contractual district coordinator Ashutosh Singh and instructor Atul Kumar Singh have been terminated. A detailed inquiry is ongoing.
The truck involved has been seized. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. The investigation continues.