Keonjhar: Ghatagaon police Friday arrested the sarpanch of Pipilia panchayat under Ghatagaon block in Keonjhar district in connection with misappropriation of about Rs 20 lakh sanctioned by Fourth State Finance Commission and Fourteenth Finance Commission for various developmental projects.
Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) is absconding.
According to a source, Rs 23 lakh was sanctioned in the last financial year to undertake various developmental activities in the panchayat. Instead of utilising the money for the intended projects, the sarpanch and the PEO siphoned off about Rs 20 lakh by transferring the money from the panchayat account to their own.
Locals brought this to the notice of the block development officer (BDO) who in turn lodged a complaint with Ghatagaon police station.
While the sarpanch is being interrogated, a manhunt has been launched to nab the absconding PEO, police sources said.
Locals said more skeletons would stumble out of the cupboard after a proper investigation is conducted into the case. They suspect involvement of more people since the PEO was given charge of the panchayat despite several allegations against him.
PNN