CALANGUTE: The Block Development Officer (BDO), Bardez, has issued a memo to the Calangute panchayat Secretary Raghuvir Bhagkar over misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 47 lakh.
The memo was issued after a surprise inspection of Calangute panchayat records by the BDO some days ago. After the inspection, the BDO took possession of the files relating to misappropriation of funds of Rs 47 lakh.
The secretary has been asked to reply to the memo within three days of its receipt. Besides, the secretary has also been directed to produce the voucher files for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 for inspection.
It may be recalled that Bhagkar had filed a complaint against unknown persons with Calangute Police on missing of panchayat funds of Rs 47 lak in April this year.
When contacted, Calangute Sarpanch Shawn Martins said that the memo was in relation to the complaint filed by the panchayat secretary on the misappropriation of around Rs 47 lakh during the period of the previous panchayat.
“When we took over we hired an accountant and a CA. After noticing misappropriation of funds during the previous term, we advised the secretary to file an FIR. After he filed the police complaint, the BDO officials came to the panchayat and sealed all the books,” Martins said.
“Now they have some queries and hence they have sent a memo to which the secretary has to give his reply,” added the Sarpanch of Calangute.
