Tiruvannamalai
District Collector KS Kandasamy has ordered the setting up of an inquiry committee headed by the AD (Assistant Director) village panchayats to look into repeated complaints of misappropriations in the 69 village panchayats in Tiruvannamalai panchayat union.
This follows repeated complaints surfacing in the operation of various accounts where the absence of elected representatives led to misappropriation of funds with the help of village panchayat secretaries.
Misappropriation was alleged in the maintenance of street lights and motors attached to overhead tanks and renovation of borewells, sources revealed.
Though only a maximum of Rs 10, 000 could be utilised by panchayats - higher amounts needing clearance from the district administration – sources revealed that amounts upto Rs 2.50 lakh was allegedly utilised through provision of bogus bills.
While the AD (village panchayats) ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of the 69 village panchayats in Tiruvannamalai PU, all concerned records, including cheque books, expenditure and tax receipt registers were submitted to the AD’s office.
The Collector appointed-committee would investigate and criminal action would be undertaken wherever official misuse was detected. “Even if the concerned officials have retired, criminal action can still be taken against them and money recovered,” an official said.
Officials are now wondering whether similar checks should also be taken in other panchayat unions. “If so much graft can come to light in the PU where the district administration sits, what about panchayat unions far
away where corruption can flourish easily,” wondered an official speaking on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, in Vellore district Madanur panchayat union continues to be in the news due to continued action by the district administration. It may be recalled that Collector SA Raman suspended a former BDO a day after he retired when a misappropriation came to light.
Talking to DT Next, he said, “We have completed a preliminary inquiry into various government scheme related issues and now are waiting for the AD audit to undertake a special audit which will go into related issues in detail. While the involvement of only one BDO was proved and action taken, action is expected on another 8 subordinate officials. These eight were transferred to various posts within the district and now face disciplinary action,” he added.
Hard on the heels of the above, Vellore vigilance officials registered a case against five persons, including a former Vellore PU BDO, former Vellore PU chairman, her husband and a two-wheeler mechanic for allegedly misappropriating Rs 10 lakh in the purchase of LED bulbs for 5 village panchayats in 2015-16.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android