JOIN USA complaint has been registered in the office of the Lokayukta against BJP MLA of Byadagi, Sureshgoudra Patil on Thursday.
The complainant Prakash Gudappa Katenahalli of Kurdakodihalli village has alleged that Sureshgoudra, a chilli trader, had misused funds available under the ASIDE (Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development and Exports) scheme of the Central government and obtained a subsidy of Rs 92.04 lakh. The complaint states that under the ASIDE scheme, funds are available for restoration of trade shops existing under the premises of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) market.
The Centre contributes 75 per cent, the local APMC contributes 10 per cent, while the traders themselves contribute 15 per cent for the restoration. This scheme is available strictly to only those shops which operate within the premises of the APMC market.
The complaint alleges that Sureshgoudra misusing his power as an MLA ensured that three shops –– B D Patil and sons, V S Patil and sons, and Somashekar Commission Agent –– gave 15 per cent of the money amounting to Rs 13.80 lakh even though they were not within the premises of the APMC market and obtained Rs 92.04 lakh as subsidy from the funds allotted for the scheme. The complainant has urged the Lokayukta to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.