DVAC books ex-panchayat chief, 21 others for graft

DVAC has cited M Kanniappan (34), former vice-president, who was in-charge president of Sirumangadu village as the main accused and C Velmurugan, panchayat secretary as second accused in the FIR. There were totally 22 persons listed in the FIR. 

Other officials listed in the FIR dated March 19, are D Prema, union overseer and T Ramya, assistant engineer of Sriperumbudur panchayat union, D Sundaravandanam, assistant executive engineer, rural development, Kancheepuram sub division, R Elumalai, zonal deputy block development officer, K Jayanthi, former block development officer, M Anasuya, zonal deputy block development officer, P Prasanna Vasanthi and former block development officer of Sriperumbudur block and VT Leema Rose, block development officer of Kattangulathur block. 

The FIR further notes that Kanniappan committed irregularities in connivance with the officials, contractors and private individuals during the execution of general, maintenance, and electrical work in the village. 

They had falsely created records and made entries in village registers fraudulently and cheated to swindle money from the panchayat fund by abusing and misusing the official position and created undue pecuniary advantage to a private individual. 

The accused created false bills as if various works like maintenance of drainage canals, new bore wells, tar road works, water line repairing, street light works, high mast light erection etc were carried out and manipulated records.  

The FIR further noted that there were commission of offences of criminal misconduct, criminal breach of trust by public servant, cheating, forgery, forgery of public records, forged documents used as genuine and its possession and falsification of accounts.