Arrest Warrants Issued Against Former Village Officials in Khandwa for Fund Misuse
In a significant crackdown on alleged corruption at the grassroots level, arrest warrants have been issued against former village sarpanchs and secretaries in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh. The action comes after these officials failed to complete sanctioned construction projects despite withdrawing the allocated public funds, leading to substantial financial losses.
Legal Action Under MP Panchayat Raj Act
Khandwa Zila Panchayat CEO Nagarjun Gowda confirmed that the warrants were issued under Section 92 of the MP Panchayat Raj and Gram Swaraj Act, 1993. This legal provision empowers authorities to take stringent measures against individuals who misuse or embezzle public funds meant for rural development projects.
Specific Cases and Recovery Orders
The warrants target multiple former officials across different gram panchayats. In Pandhana, former secretary Komalram Sangule faces warrants in two separate cases. In gram panchayat Gudikheda, he failed to construct a sanctioned crematorium boundary wall, resulting in a recovery order of approximately Rs 3 lakh. Similarly, in gram panchayat Godwadi, his failure to build a CC road and drain led to a recovery order of about Rs 1 lakh.
In another instance, former secretary Yogesh Patel and former sarpanch Manukabai from gram panchayat Kudaimal were issued warrants for failing to construct a CC road sanctioned in the 2019-20 financial year. A recovery order of Rs 3.64 lakh has been issued against them for this lapse.
Administrative Response and Compliance Issues
Despite multiple orders issued under Section 89 of the MP Panchayat Raj Act to deposit the embezzled amounts, the accused officials failed to comply. This non-compliance prompted the district administration to authorize their arrest, aiming to ensure the recovery of public funds and uphold accountability in rural governance.
The move highlights the administration's commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring that development funds are utilized effectively for the intended purposes, benefiting local communities.
