Legal Correspondent
Shimla, December 31
The High Court has directed the state authorities to take appropriate action against an ex-pradhan and the then Panchayat Secretary of Gram Panchayat, Pujarli, in Shimla, on the allegations of misuse of government funds, forgery and preparation of false records regarding the amount released to the panchayat.
The court also directed the Director General of Police (Vigilance) to register an FIR against them and take the investigation to its logical end on or before March 31.
Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the orders while disposing of a petition filed by Kewal Ram alleging that the Block Development Officer, Chopal, had issued an amount of Rs1,80,900 to the Gram Panchayat, Pujarli, for the construction of toilets for 67 families of below poverty line (BPL), amounting to Rs 2,700 to each family, but the ex-pradhan and the then Panchayat Secretary withdrew the amount of Rs 85,000 through self cheque from the Panchayat General Account, Pujarli, in October 2011 and showed the amount for construction of toilets of 24 families.
It was further alleged that of the 24 persons, three-fourth persons had already died in 2008 and their fraud receipts were prepared after withdrawal of the amount.
The court observed that "it is more than settled that once the cognisable offence comes to the notice of the investigation agency, it has no option but to proceed with the investigation by filing an FIR to this effect. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances, the conclusion is that fraud has reached its crescendo".
Courtesy: Tribune News Service
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