India arrests 69 in fraud inquiry

Police in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh say they have arrested 69 people as part of an investigation into allegations of fraud and embezzlement.

The police chief in the western district of Ghaziabad said charge-sheets had been filed against them.

The case centres on allegations of fraudulent withdrawals totalling $1.4m from the government provident fund, which were uncovered in February.

Those arrested are lower-grade employees of the courts.

They are said to have told investigators that they were acting on the orders of district judges.

The police say they have now asked the chief justice of the supreme court and high court for permission to question a number of serving and retired judges.