Karnataka - Belgaum   

Residents sore over delay in probe

Staff Correspondent

Belgaum: Residents of Kallehol village under Sulga gram pnchayat limits in Belgaum taluk are upset over the “unreasonable” delay in taking up inquiry into the foodgrains misappropriation case involving the fair price shop in the village run by VSSSN.

Despite directions from the Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Bangalore, to the Deputy Registrar of Belgaum to inquire into the matter and submit the report within 15 days, the latter has so far not started the probe.

According to Kallehol gram panchayat members Sanjay K. Patil, Subash Motiram Maruche, vice-president Savitri L. Muchandkar and social worker Maruti R. Mense, who were instrumental in bringing to light the misappropriation of foodgrains and kerosene worth Rs. 1.88 lakh by the local fair price shop owner about a year ago, the tahsildar in his report dated February 8,. 2007 had noted about the misappropriation. The report was the submitted to the Deputy Commissioner for action.

Subsequently, the Joint Registrar, on June 16, wrote a letter directing the Deputy Registrar to take up inquiry and submit the report within 15 days.

On the contrary, the Deputy Registrar dashed a letter to the Assistant Registrar of Belgaum on June 20 to complete the enquiry and submit the report within 15 days to the former’s office.

Mr. Patil said here on Thursday that even the High Court, while dismissing the writ petition of the fair price shop owner (assailing the orders passed by the tahsildar), passed orders on May 5 directing the Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum to conclude the inquiry within six months.

The office of Deputy and Assistant Registrars were finding a pretext in the six months time to delay the enquiry, Mr. Patil alleged.

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