Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jan 3: The court here has sentenced the president and secretary of a gram panchayat (GP) here for alleged diversion of funds meant for 'Indira Awas Yojana'.

The case relates to depriving money meant for disbursement to original beneficiaries under the said scheme, which was sanctioned to Kaniyuoor gram panchayat in the taluk. Sheena, secretary of the GP, who was named as first accused, and its president, Mahesh, named as second accused, were sentenced to one year imprisonment under sections 409 and 34 of Indian Penal Code and six months imprisonment under section 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code respectively.

The case pertains to misuse of Rs 3,05,000 deposited into the gram panchayat account with a bank's Beltangady branch in 2009 by the accused. Both had signed the cheque and deposited the amount into the saving bank account of the secretary maintained in the same branch.

The then police circle inspectors of the rural police station here, K Nagesh and B K Manjayya, had investigated the case and filed charge sheet in the court. Senior judge of the civil and JMFC court here, B K Komala, who heard the case, sentenced the accused after finding them guilty. Assistant public prosecutor, G K Kiran Kumar, had appeared in the case on behalf of the prosecution.