Ahmedabad: In Dhamtvan village of Dasakroi Taluka, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday filed a case against the former sarpanch and the talati-cum-minister over alleged misuse of power and financial irregularities. The FIR pertains to expenditures from the village panchayat’s fund during the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25.
According to the FIR, expenses under various heads such as earth-filling work, water supply, festival arrangements, and staff salaries were made without the required proposals or technical approvals. The investigation also revealed that proper records of these expenditures were not maintained.
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Sources said that salaries of panchayat employees were not transferred directly to their bank accounts. Instead, payments were made via bearer cheques in the name of the village computer operator. The probe suggests that both officials allegedly misused their positions to divert government funds for personal purposes.
The ACB alleged that this coordinated scam caused a loss of approximately ₹1.55 crore to the government and that the accused acquired assets for personal gain. Following the FIR, the department immediately launched an investigation and is verifying the relevant documents.
Experts note that such irregularities in village panchayats have been a persistent problem. Officials or employees often misuse funds for personal convenience, while oversight mechanisms remain weak. Specialists in agriculture and rural development emphasized that strict monitoring of panchayat fund expenditures is crucial, and authorizing any expense without technical approval and transparent record-keeping constitutes serious financial negligence.
Local villagers said that over the past few years, many development projects have not delivered the intended benefits. Some residents complained that irregularities were observed in earth-filling and water supply work, raising concerns among the community.
The ACB team also stated that the assets and bank transactions of both accused would be thoroughly examined. A detailed financial audit will be conducted to confirm their roles and financial gains. Experts said the case highlights a lack of transparency and accountability in rural administration. They warned that if timely action is not taken, such irregularities could affect the progress of rural development programs.
Strict action at the panchayat level can help prevent corruption and irregularities in the future. Local communities and administrative authorities must work together to ensure that funds are used strictly for their intended purposes.
The next step for the ACB involves interrogating the accused and conducting an in-depth review of all related documents. This incident serves as a warning to the state government and rural administration that financial discipline and transparency at the panchayat level have become imperative.
