Mohammed Mustafa, a contract employee of the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) was arrested by the police on Sunday for allegedly swindling money.

The Museum police held him for allegedly diverting funds that were meant for the mid-day meal scheme that was to be implemented in government and aided schools across the state.

The fraud came to light during the scrutinizing of account funds by the authorities. DPI chief KV Mohankumar sacked him from the job immediately after the swindling was found out and filed a complaint with the police.

The Museum police took Mohammed into custody from his native place Tirur in Malappuram on Saturday.

The accused was sent to judicial custody after being produced in court.

The 32-year-old accused allegedly swindled Rs 28 lakh from the midday- meal scheme allotted to schools across the state.

He was working as a computer operator at the DPI office in Thiruvananthapuram, reports Deccan Chronicle.

He managed to swindle money by forging bills and receipts. These were to be received in DPI before providing funds. He even opened a bank account and diverted funds to the account.  

The mid-deal scheme has been received well in the state. The government in March 2016 had increased the allocation under the scheme from Rs five to Rs eight per child. The objective is to provide adequate quantity and nutrient-rich food to the students.