Maharashtra's Jalna district has suspended 21 talathis and clerks over alleged Rs 34.97 crore irregularities in disbursing unseasonal rain relief funds. A probe, initiated in January, found issues in 122 villages in Ambad and 59 in Ghansawangi, where Rs 522.29 crore was allocated
-1751987928985_d.png "Jalna relief fund scam: 21 officials suspended over disbursal irregularities in Maharashtra")
Council Chairman Ram Shinde criticized the slow probe, demanding it be finished in 15 days. File Pic
In a move Maharashtra's Jalna district as many as 21 talathis and clerks have been suspended over alleged irregularities in the disbursal of relief assistance for unseasonal rains, state minister Makrand Jadhav announced on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI.
Meanwhile, responding to a question in the legislative council, the state relief and rehabilitation minister detailed that the government had allocated Rs 522.29 crore to Jalna district for losses incurred due to unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and other natural calamities during 2022-23. Of this sum, Rs 112.63 crore was earmarked for Ambad and Rs 11.77 crore for Ghansawangi, and it was from these two talukas that complaints about fund disbursal irregularities have been emerged.
Moreover, Jadhav confirmed that a committee, formed in January this year to investigate the matter, while the investigation found the irregularities in 122 of 138 villages in Ambad and 59 of 115 villages in Ghansawangi talukas. While an interim probe report submitted in April further revealed that Rs 34.97 crore was transferred into 14,549 account holders' accounts.
The minister also stated that during 2022-23 and 2023-24, the login credentials of the tehsildar had been misused for disbursing these relief funds, reported PTI.
"Based on the district-level committee probe report, 21 talathis and clerks have been suspended," the minister said.
However, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the concerned tehsildar, naib tehsildar, 36 talathis, and clerks. Furthermore, the concerned departments are also probing gram sevaks and agriculture assistants.
The divisional commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is also investigating the matter, with the probe set to extend beyond Jalna district to all eight district circles. Jadhav assured that strict action would be taken against all guilty officers.
Council Chairman Ram Shinde criticised the delay, stating that the probe should have been completed within six months, given that over a year has passed since the alleged irregularities.
He urged that the departmental probe be concluded within the next 15 days, and action be initiated against the culprits.
Meanwhile, Congress MLC Abhijit Vanzari highlighted that the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita mandates the registration of a criminal case even if there is prima facie evidence of an irregularity.
(With inputs from PTI)
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