EO shunted out for issuing cheques to councillors

VELLORE: The executive officer (EO) of Odugathur town panchayat was placed in the reserve list after an inquiry revealing that he had issued cheques for completed infrastructure works to councillors instead of the concerned contractors, sources said.

The local body near Vellore has 15 councillors, of whom 13 belong to the DMK, while the other 2 are from the opposition AIADMK.

The local body had undertaken various civic works, including laying roads and constructing buildings.

According to sources, the EO, Munusamy, was reportedly pressured into handing over cheques for the completed works to the councillors instead of the contractors who did the work.

When the news reached AD (Panchayats) Jijabai, the official conducted a preliminary inquiry and shifted Munusamy to the reserve list.

She then conducted inquiries with the 13 councillors. After the official explained to them how it was against rules to collect the cheques for contract work, five of them who had already encashed the cheques reportedly repaid the amount while the other eight who still had the cheques in hand returned them to her.