The Bihar Education Department has launched an official probe after an arrears payment amounting to Rs 17,49,507 was deposited into the bank account of a local panchayat teacher in Gopalganj district. The incident occurred at the Navsrijit Primary School located in Rupanchhap Kurmi Tola under the Manjha block, where teacher Khushbu Kumari received the substantial sum. The transfer of such a massive amount of public funds has raised serious procedural questions, prompting district authorities to order a comprehensive inquiry through a dedicated three-member committee while also initiating steps to recover the money.
Irregularities on the e-Shiksha Kosh Portal
According to official details, the sum of Rs 17,49,507 was credited as arrears to Khushbu Kumari's bank account on May 26. Following the revelation of this high-value transaction, the establishment branch of the education department swung into action. On October 13, the department dispatched an official letter to Manoj Kumar Choudhary, who was serving as the in-charge headmaster of the school at the time. The departmental communication pointedly noted that the then in-charge headmaster had not approved the joining or contribution of the teacher. Despite this lack of formal approval, forms were submitted and signed on the official e-Shiksha Kosh portal, leading investigators to examine who authorized and facilitated the online entry.
High Court Directives and Non-Submission of Documents
In her defence regarding the payment, Khushbu Kumari had cited an order issued by the High Court on January 12, 2026. To comply with and evaluate the court order, a hearing was scheduled at the office of the District Programme Officer (Establishment) on September 21. In parallel, the department instructed the teacher to produce all original documents related to her initial appointment and service record. The deadline for submitting these verification papers was set for October 7. However, the teacher failed to submit her original documents within the stipulated timeframe, further deepening administrative suspicions surrounding her appointment and subsequent financial approvals.
Three-Member Inquiry Panel and Recovery Proceedings
Addressing the matter, Gopalganj District Education Officer Amrendra Kumar Pandey confirmed that a three-member committee has been constituted to get to the bottom of the case. The inquiry panel comprises the DPO (Establishment), DPO (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), and the relevant Block Education Officer. This team is tasked with scrutinizing every stage of the process, including the validity of the appointment, how portal entries were completed without formal joining approval, and the exact mechanics of the financial release. DEO Pandey stated that strict disciplinary action will be taken against anyone found responsible for the lapse, adding that formal letters are being issued to recover the entire disbursed sum from the teacher.
