Here, B in BDO stands for bungling

The Vigilance Bureau, after getting written complaints, has started search for Tarsikka BDO Dhanwant Singh. Vigilance SSP Dilbagh Singh said they were carrying out raids to nab the BDO, who has been missing for the past few days. He said though an accountant in the BDO office has been rounded up, they were yet to register a case.

Tarsem Singh Sialka, chairman of Tarsikka Block Samiti who had lodged a complaint with the Vigilance, said, “Rs 1.5-crore funds have been siphoned off and there is a prima facie case against the BDO, as he had forged the signatures of various sarpanches to misappropriate funds issued under NREGA and other Central and Punjab government schemes. I have sought the registration of a case and arrest of Dhanwant Singh,” said Sialka.

The BDO has been charged with preparing fake bills of labour engaged for carrying out development works and opening more than one fake account to deposit the money embezzled from the government treasury. “Dozens of sarpanches have approached me with affidavits, saying that their signatures to clear the bills were forged and money was shown to have been withdrawn by them,” said Sialka.

The complainant also alleged the money was meant for laying of streets, repair of schools and panchayat building. Apart from this bungling, a major scam in the auction of land on lease has also been reported.

“There are 90 villages in the block and almost every panchayat has land in its name which is auctioned for a specific period for agricultural purposes. The revenue thus earned is spent on villages’ development. But here, land was auctioned to a chosen few and various panchayats lost thousands of rupees’ in revenue,” he alleged.

Dilbagh Singh, meanwhile, said they would not spare anyone. “We are on the job and in a day or two, a full-fledged inquiry will be initiated,” he said.