Ex-sarpanch under lens for ‘swindling’ panchayat funds

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Mahendragarh, January 17

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) has exposed the alleged irregularities of a former sarpanch of the district’s Kheri village in the purchase of solar lights, street lights, cemented seats and dustbins, causing a loss to the exchequer.

Rakesh Gupta, Project Director of the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Programme, has directed the district authorities to get an FIR registered against former sarpanch Madan Lal and ensure the money was recovered from him, sources said.

The SIT was constituted after Satyendra Kumar Yadav of Kheri village had, on February 14, 2017, lodged a complaint at the CM window, alleging irregularities in the purchase of items.

“During the inquiry, the SIT recorded the statements of then sarpanch, the gram sachiv, the complainant and then Block Development and Panchayat Officers regarding the purchase. It also conducted physical verification of the items purchased,” the sources said.

The SIT report said the gram panchayat had bought 116 solar lights for Rs19.34 lakh on the basis of quotations only. Approval wasn’t sought from the officer concerned. Even, specification of solar lights was also not taken from the officer. On verification, the SIT found seven lights missing, causing a loss of Rs1.12 lakh to the government as the payment was made from the panchayat fund.

“Of the 88 street lights purchased for Rs3,550 per light, 48 were found missing, causing a loss of Rs1.7 lakh to the government. The gram panchayat also caused a loss of Rs91,800 in the purchase cemented seats and Rs1.31 lakh in the purchase of dustbins,” the report said.