Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 23: The president of Belapu gram panchayat in the taluk has filed a police complaint against panchayat development officer (PDO) of the panchayat. The complaint claims that the PDO had drawn funds by forging the signature of Belapu gram panchayat.

Belapu gram panchayat president, Vimala Anchan, has filed the said complaint against PDO, Appu Sherigar. She has said in her complaint that a joint account in the name of the gram panchayat president and PDO is maintained in Kalathur branch of Vijaya Bank. She said that the PDO had drawn Rs 53,000 from this account illegally by forging her signature, and used the money for his personal expenses. She has accused the PDO of siphoning off public money.

Police personnel of Shirva station have received the complaint and begun investigation.

The PDO, Appu Sherigar, however, has denied this allegation. He said that the above cheque was encashed after obtaining the president's signature. He has clarified that this amount was towards ration card-related expenses. He has accused the gram panchayat president of trying to subdue him through conspiracy, as she is angry about the PDO's attitude of not dancing to her tunes. He said he has decided to clarify the above issue and complain to the higher officials in the department against the president, who he said was unnecessarily making baseless allegations against him.