Embezzlement of feast fair funds: 5 months on, MMC yet to recover pending Rs 14 lakh from accused

Despite FIR no arrest made; the delay raises concerns about the efficiency of the recovery process
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Team Herald

MARGAO: In a clear indicator of government's ineptness towards dealing with corruption, the Margao Municipal Council hasn't been able to recover the pending amount of approximately Rs 14 lakh related to the feast fair, despite having filed an FIR five months ago.

This delay raises concerns about the efficiency of the recovery process and the need for more effective measures to address issues of misappropriation of municipal funds.

Damodar Shirodkar, Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), stated that they have granted the police a free hand and provided directions to arrest the accused, who has been absconding for the past four months.

It is pertinent to note that a scam involving nearly Rs. 18 lakh collected from the feast fair has come to light, with inquiries revealing that Yogesh Shetkar, an MMC staff member, diverted the funds into his personal bank account. Following this discovery, the civic body filed a police complaint against the accused.

However, despite these actions, he has neither been arrested nor has the money been recovered.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar clarified that there is no protection for the accused.

"We have given the police a free hand to arrest the accused as soon as possible. Currently, out of the Rs 18 lakh, nearly Rs. 14 lakh is still pending for recovery from the staff member. Terminating his service will not assist in recovering the money," he stated.

He informed that the concerned staff member has also taken out loans from several banks amounting to lakhs.

"We had even sent him notices at his doorstep twice," the Chairperson stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson announced that the long-standing demand to paint the municipal building will soon be addressed.

"We will be spending Rs. 13 lakh to paint the municipal buildings, and the work will be completed before the Dindi festival in Margao. Tenders have already been floated, and we have also initiated the process of renovating the municipal building," he said.

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