Two GP members booked for fund misappropriation 

Mangaluru: Officials of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday booked two Gram Panchayat members for alleged misappropriation of funds of more than Rs 1 crore, earmarked for street lights of Haleyangadi Gram Panchayat.

An advocate, in his complaint filed with the ACB in the year 2017 had accused the president, secretary and PDO of Haleyangady Gram Panchayat of misappropriating the funds meant for the street lights for the year 2015 and 2016.

Accordingly, an inquiry was initiated and several irregularities were noticed in the maintenance of the records by the accused. Records related to purchase of CFL bulbs, tube lights and halogen bulbs had not been maintained, moreover, it was also revealed that a number of CFL bulbs and tube lights were replaced within a few weeks of its installation.

As these irregularities were indicative of the misappropriation, ACB officials sought approval from the state government to register a case against the accused. An FIR was registered against two of the accused – Panchayat Development Officer Aboobacker and Secretary Keshava after getting the approval. Meanwhile, sanction, to file a case against the then president of the Haleyangady Gram Panchayat is awaited.

Aboobacker is presently serving as the PDO of Gurupura Gram Panchayat, while Keshava is serving as Secretary of Talapady Gram Panchayat, informed an ACB official