Chekkanurani building collapse: Panchayat secretary suspended

District Collector TS Rajasekar, when contacted, said that based on a report submitted by the team led by Assistant Director of Panchayats Chelladurai which conducted an inquiry into the building collapse, Kasimayan was found guilty of forgery and document tampering.

The report showed that there was concrete evidence of the panchayat secretary, upon receipt of money, forging the Block Development Officer’s signature in documents, thereby allowing the building owner, Madhavan, to construct the building, the Collector said. Madhavan has been arrested.

After having examined documents pertaining to the report submitted by the inquiry team on Wednesday, it has been revealed that panchayat secretary Kasimayan indulged in such wrongdoing in four other similar issues, the Collector said.

Efforts are under way to provide compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the victims killed in the building collapse. A report would be sent to the Ministry of Labour soon for sanctioning the relief, the Collector said. Sources said efforts are being taken on a war footing to stop the illegal construction of four buildings here.