Gannavaram panchayat secy suspended

PNS|Vijayawada

Gannavaram Panchayat Grade-1 Secretary N Rajendra Vara Prasad has been suspended from service for misappropriation of gram panchayat funds. It was found that around Rs.1.58 crore was diverted from the panchayat’s account without prior permission of the panchayat body or higher officials.

Based on the primary inquiry report, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (PR&RD) Commissioner Kona Sasidhar on Monday issued suspension orders to Rajendra Vara Prasad.

He made it clear that the Secretary should not leave headquarters without taking permission from the government. After completion of the inquiry, the PR&RD Commissioner decided to take disciplinary action against Rajendra Vara Prasad as per the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (CC&A) Rules – 1991. As per the Commissioner’s orders, Krishna District Panchayat Officer (DPO) Nageswar Naik issued the suspension orders to the Secretary on Monday.According to sources, the Gannavaram gram panchayat funds to the tune of Rs.1,58,12,672 were misappropriated in the financial year 2021-22. Of that, Rs.1,53,85,010 was gram panchayat general funds, Rs.95,155 was 14th Finance Commission funds, and Rs.3,32,507 was 15th Finance Commission funds.

Based on the complaint given by former soldier M Ravi Kumar as well as some of the panchayat ward members, the Gudiwada DLPO conducted an inquiry into the matter on October 27. Later, the DLPO submitted his report to the government through the Krishna DPO.During the inquiry, it was found that the misappropriated amount of Rs.1,58,12,672 was shared by Gannavaram Sarpanch Nidamarthi Sowjanya and Panchayat Secretary Rajendra Vara Prasad. Later, the State government issued a show-cause notice to Sarpanch Nidamarthi Sowjanya.

But, the department did not receive any clarification or report from her and DPO Nageswar Naik temporarily suspended the sarpanch’s cheque power on November 9. As the issue is under investigation, Rajendra Vara Prasad cannot leave the headquarters without the permission of the government, the PR&RD commissioner said in the suspension order.Interestingly, the Gannavaram gram panchayat is the headquarters of the Gannavaram Assembly constituency represented by MLA Dr Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan, who defected from TDP. Sarpanch Nidamarthi Sowjanya is a follower of MLA Vamsi.