PANJIM: The Directorate of Panchayat (DoP) Siddhi Halarnakar has disqualified Sangolda Village Panchayat Deputy Sarpanch Ulhas Morajkar for allegedly misappropriating panchayat funds amounting to Rs 16,10,926.
Morajkar had allegedly withdrawn the amount from Sangolda Village Panchayat Bank account.
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Anand Tulaskar had filed a complaint stating that the Deputy Sarpanch during his 2017-2022 tenure misappropriated funds and alleged that Morajkar withdrew the amount for making payment to labourers but there were neither receipts nor vouchers nor budget approval.
A complaint was filed with the Directorate of Panchayat and a petition was also filed in the High Court of Bombay at Goa, who had directed the Directorate of Panchayat to dispose of the complaint within three months. The Directorate of Panchayat disposed of the complaint on March 26, 2024.
For recovery of the loss caused to the village panchayat, the matter will now be referred to the North Goa Collector. Morajkar will be ineligible to contest panchayat election till May 19, 2026.
Tulaskar had filed two complaints. The Directorate of Panchayat has disposed of the first complaint pertaining to illegal utilisation of panchayat funds. The complainant had stated that while Morajkar was the sarpanch from April 7, 2021 to June 18, 2022, and from May 2021 to June 2022, he had arbitrarily withdrawn panchayat funds to the tune of Rs 8,70,935 by way of self withdrawals through cheques. The second complaint will focus on recovery of the losses caused to the village panchayat.
Adv Vithal Naik argued on behalf of Anand Tulaskar.
