Bellary: The Nandihalli village panchayat is embroiled in another financial controversy as ₹1.99 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from the Karnataka Gramin Bank Sogi branch on April 3. This unauthorized transaction occurred through a forged check, allegedly signed by the panchayat chairperson and the taluk development officer, highlighting serious lapses in oversight.
The funds were transferred to an account at the Karnataka Gramin Bank Dharmasagar branch and subsequently withdrawn by an individual named Shankrappa. Upon examination of financial records, it was discovered that the signatures of Panchayat Chairperson Shainaz Bee and PDO M. Prakash had been forged to facilitate this illegal withdrawal.
In response to these criminal acts, PDO M. Prakash filed a case with the town police station on June 24, urging authorities to take action against those responsible for embezzling funds through fraudulent means.
This incident is not isolated; last year, a significant amount of money intended for development schemes was stolen using similar forgery tactics. A separate case has been lodged with law enforcement regarding this matter as well.
Regrettably, financial malfeasance seems deeply ingrained within Nandihalli Gram Panchayat’s history as it continues to grapple with recurring instances of fund misappropriation dating back many years. Previous wrongdoing resulted in severe penalties for seven former governing body members who were found guilty of misusing NREGA scheme funds through falsified documents in the names of deceased individuals.
As legal proceedings surrounding past improprieties remain ongoing in higher courts, this latest complaint underscores persistent challenges related to fiscal integrity within the panchayat.