Not only did the cheque of Rs 1 lakh given to one of the UP Board class 10th toppers by CM Yogi Adityanath bounced, but the student was also charged penalty for the dishonoured cheque.

Alok Mishra, a student of High School in Young Stream Inter College in Barabanki district, had scored 93.5 percent marks in his UP Board High School results and was ranked seventh in the state. After which, Alok was called at a function in Lucknow on May 29, in which CM Yogi Adityanath presented him a cheque of Rs 1 lakh for his hard work and achievement.

The cheque given to the meritorious student was issued by the signature of District Inspector of Schools, Barabanki, Raj Kumar Yadav and belonged to State Bank of India departmental account. The cheque numbered 974926 was then submitted by Alok’s parents in his account in Dena Bank in Hazratganj area of Lucknow on 5 June 2018.

However, when the money did not get credited in Alok’s account, he contacted the bank and came to know that the cheque has bounced.

Speaking to News18, Alok said, “I was really happy to receive the cheque from CM sir. Two days after submitting the cheque in the bank, we came to know that it had bounced after which I was a little disappointed.”

The reason stated by the bank for bouncing of the cheque was stated as mismatch of the signatures. DIOS, Raj Kumar Yadav said, “The reason for cheque bouncing has been told as mismatch of signature. However, no other student has come up with a similar complaint as of now. New cheque has been issued to the student.”

District Magistrate Barabanki, Uday Bhanu Tripathi said, “This is a very serious issue and action will be taken if any laxity is found. The matter is related to the CM and should have been taken seriously.”