HYDERABAD, Jan 24: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Hyderabad city has initiated an inquiry into the embezzlement of funds, amounting to millions of rupees in the name of appointment of more than 700 ghost primary school teachers during the tenure of the then SDEO city (female), Shama Rashidi, the sister of a superintendent of police.

An official of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Hyderabad circle, told this correspondent on Friday that an inspector was coordinating with the NAB officials of Hyderabad.

The scandal of ghost school teachers came to the fore following anonymous complaints to the central and provincial higher authorities, seeking an inquiry into the appointments of more than 700 female primary school teachers, mostly in the jurisdiction of the then SDEO city (female).

Various inquiries have so far been conducted in this embezzlement.

In all these inquiries the then SDEO, Shama Rashdi; head clerk, Maula Bux; Liaquat, and Mohammad Hassan Dayo were involved.

An ACE official said that these officials had been sacked following the registration of a dozen cases against them.

He said that millions of rupees were misappropriated in these fake appointments of teachers by showing them as ghost primary school teachers.

The fraud was detected after a State Bank official intercepted a suspicious cheque of Rs1.2 million and the inquiries into the issuance of the cheque finally revealed all facts, relating to the massive racket of the education department.

The cases were pending in the court of the special judge, Anti-Corruption (Provincial).

Ms Rashdi was last given the posting of the DEO (female), Dadu.

The deputy secretary of education, Siddique Memon, and the then director, education, Primary, late M. A. Rasheed had also conducted similar inquiries.

Now the NAB has initiated inquiry in the embezzlement and has called for records from the ACE, Hyderabad circle.

The ACE informed Hyderabad-based officials of the NAB that the cases had been chargesheeted and were pending trial. The NAB officials were trying to get hold of some appointment letters issued to the teachers.