Fake, inflated bills produced for minister's village stay: RTI reply

Rs 3L shown as spent for Anjaneya's visit to Mudigere taluk

The officials of the Integrated Tribal Development Project have misappropriated thousands of rupees by creating fake bill of hotels in Balehonnur, towards the expenses of Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya’s village stay at Dhannakkihara in Mudigere taluk on April 15, show an RTI reply.

H K Mohan Kumar of Basaravalli had filed an RTI application, asking for photocopies of bills. The ITDP coordinating officer furnished the photocopies, which show that the department had used fake bills to misuse funds.

A total of Rs 2,99,100 has been spent for the minister’s rural stay. A sum of Rs 1,24,300 has been spent on meals, breakfast and drinking water. A payment of Rs 1,01,900 has been made towards pandal, chairs, generator and light arrangement. Also, Rs 8,200 has been spent for photography and videography, Rs 56,000 for flexes, Rs 4,400 for plastic tumblers and Rs 4,300 for the cleaning of the ground.

While showing the expenses, the department has created fake bills of Giri, Srinivasa and Parijata hotels at the Balehonnur town bus stand.

As per one of the fake bills, 160 plates of rice, sambar, curry and pickles have been purchased from Hotel Srinivasa. At Rs 30 per plate of afternoon meals, an amount of Rs 4,800 has been paid. Interestingly, the hotel does not prepare rice and sambar in the afternoon. The hotel owner said that the bill does not belong to them and that they do not give bills.

Another fake bill shows that 230 plates of “poha” (avalakki) have been purchased for Rs 4,600. But the owner of Giri Hotel questioned the genuineness of the bill and said that the bills given in the hotel contain VAT number. Also, it has the seal and owner’s signature. But the bills shown by the department has none of these.

Further, 240 plates of Upma have been purchased by paying Rs 4,800 (Rs 20 per plate), from Hotel Parijata. The hotel manager said the rate per plate of Upma is Rs 15. Neither they have prepared nor supplied Upma in such a huge quantity in a day so far, he said. He also said that the bill furnished by the department is certainly not original as it does not have VAT number. He also denied giving any bill to ITDP department.

Double the amount has been mentioned towards the purchase of water bottles. As many as 480 bottles of Malnad Aqua brand have been purchased, while the name of the brand mentioned in the bill is Kinley.

The wholesale rate for half litre drinking water is Rs 5 to 6. But, in the bills, the rate per unit is mentioned as Rs 10.

The department had ordered for 135 flexes of 4x10 inches and another flex of 10x20 inches, at Sri Sticker & Digital, towards which a payment of Rs 56,000 has been made. Shop owner Kiran said they had prepared flexes worth Rs 33,000 and have given the bill for the same, but not for Rs 56,000.