Aalalasundaram panchayat in Nagapattinam has a strange problem. Its ex-president S. Ravi is not handing over the works registers and books of accounts, despite several requests and directives from various government agencies. Replies to RTI petitions indicate misappropriation of large sums.
An RTI petitioner, A. Illayaraja, has received a bagful of audit reports that point to swindling of about `6 lakh form 2006 to 2011, when Ravi was the president.
“Though the block development officials, the district collector and the rural development department told him to pay back the panchyat, he is yet to remit the money.
Strangely, the officials concerned did not pursue the matter,” Illayaraja said, adding that Ravi had not even maintained the attendance registers relating to the panchayat staff.
According to the RTI replies, Ravi did not even hand over the cashbook, which should have been done before the elections for the next term.
“He did not maintain the records properly for the electrical and electronic items he had bought using the panchayat funds.
Also, no documents were made available for the revenue out of auctioning of 16 ponds belonging to the panchayat,” said Illayaraja.
However when contacted, Ravi maintained that he did not commit any irregularities and there were no notices from any officials.