Varanasi, May 14 -- Azamgarh police on Wednesday arrested district social welfare officer (DSWO) Rajesh Chaudhary for allegedly facilitating the payment of salaries totaling about Rs.51.46 lakh to 10 illegally appointed teachers. Chaudhary was arrested near Kunwar Singh Park in Azamgarh district. Police stated that the action was taken after an inquiry confirmed the DSWO's role in the irregular payments. The case originated from a complaint lodged with higher authorities by RK Chaurasia, deputy director, social welfare, Azamgarh division. Following the complaint, a committee comprising district-level officials was constituted to conduct an inquiry. The inquiry report revealed that irregular payments totaling Rs.51,46,780 had been made to the 10 illegally appointed teachers. The committee's inquiry found Azamgarh DSWO Rajesh Chaudhary and Satyendra Bahadur Singh, the chief assistant at the office of the DSWO, to be culpable. Based on Chaurasia's complaint and the inquiry report, a case was registered against Chaudhary and Singh under Sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 316(5) (criminal breach of trust) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) at Kotwali Police Station. An investigation was subsequently initiated. Investigating officer inspector Rafi Alam, accompanied by his team, arrested Rajesh Chaudhary on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The accused was later produced before the court. Senior superintendent of police, Azamgarh, Anil Kumar, confirmed the development, adding that further investigation is underway....