Representative image for financial fraud.
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Chikkamagaluru: The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has issued an order disqualifying Shanuvalli Gram Panchayat Vice President Nandini Santosh in the Koppa taluk of Chikkamagaluru district over allegations of misuse of panchayat grants.
Earlier, gram panchayat member Naveen Kuruvane had submitted a complaint against her to the Regional Commissioner of Mysuru on February 27, 2023, when she was the GP president.
The departmental inquiry, conducted by the Additional Chief Secretary who also served as the quasi-judicial authority, found irregularities in the utilisation of statutory grants, 15th Finance Commission funds, and other grants.
Irregularities included releasing funds without obtaining approval from the gram panchayat general body, failing to record material details in the stock and distribution registers, and not verifying where the purchased materials were used.
The then PDO, Chandan, was also found to have violated government regulations, said the order.
As per the order, Nandini Santosh has been disqualified from both the vice-president and member positions. Furthermore, she has been barred from contesting elections for the next six years.