BANGALORE: Buying computers with accessories for Rs. 99,981 may not surprise us. But not when it means exceeding the State Government ceiling of Rs. 50,000.

This is what officials of Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat have done in the purchase of computers for 228 gram panchayat offices. The procurement triggered allegations of corruption at the general body meeting of the panchayat here on Thursday.

Members alleged that officials in an attempt to cover up the deal paid Rs 50,000 by cheque and the remaining by vouchers. Almost all the computers were purchased from a single agency, the members alleged. Cutting across party lines, members alleged that the officials had misappropriated around Rs. 1.35 crore in this transaction.

Although the State Government had issued a circular to all Executive Officers (EOs) of the eight taluk panchayats in the zilla panchayat to buy computers along with peripherals within Rs. 50,000, the officials bought the computers by paying double the sanctioned amount. Zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.S. Satyamurthy had released the additional amount and praised the Executive Officers for getting the computers installed, the members alleged.

Furnishing documents and receipts made to the city-based Devu's Enterprises (from where most computers had been purchased), V. Narayanswamy (Congress) said no tenders had been called for the project.

"The quotations have no date or correspondence numbers. The deal has happened on a voucher-basis," he alleged and demanded a Corps of Detective (CoD) or Lokayukta probe into the whole issue.

Other members, including Cheluvaraj, B.M. Narayanswamy, Dayanand Swamy and Nelamangala MLA Anjana Murthy joined Mr. Narayanswamy in his tirade against the officials. "We want this to be probed in detail and the corrupt officials should be punished," the members said.

When the Executive Officers said they had no hand in it as gram panchayat officials had purchased the computers on their own, the members resolved to set up a committee to investigate the matter.

Zilla panchayat president C. Shantamma, vice-president A.M. Venkatesh and Mr. Satyamurthy, who chose the members for the committee, said it would comprise a member each from the ruling and opposition parties, presidents of eight taluk panchayats and Deputy Secretary (Development). The committee would probe the issue and submit its report within a month, Ms. Shanthamma said. Mr. Narayanswamy alleged that Mr. Satyamurthy had hired clerks, typists and security guards from a private agency in violation of all norms. "Although there is a Supreme Court order banning employment of daily wage employees, he has made the appointments without bringing it to the notice of panchayat members," he alleged.

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