KESCo officials under scanner

A CASE related to misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 1.25 crore in KESCo has come to light. Several former and present officials of KESCo?s account department are under scanner.

A CASE related to misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 1.25 crore in KESCo has come to light. Several former and present officials of KESCo’s account department are under scanner.

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According to information, the office of the accountant general (AG), in its audit, carried out some years ago, raised objections to the misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 1.25 crore. In its report, the AG’s office pointed out that no information had been provided about the expenditure of Rs 1.25 crore by the accounts department. It directed the KESCo officials to conduct an in-house inquiry to investigate the matter. However, successive authorities of KESCo shelved the issue and did not initiate any inquiry.

But the recently appointed deputy chief accounts officer of KESCo TN Srivastav took the initiative and initiated an inquiry into the embezzlement of funds. A two-member committee was formed to investigate the matter and submit its report. One of the members of the committee is general manager MP Tripathi.

After the initial investigation, several officials associated with the accounts department of KESCo were found to have been involved in the scam. These officials, most of whom have retired, include RC Vajpayee, RS Pandey, OPN Mishra, VS Mishra, RN Gupta, Mohammed Shami, JP Pandey, RP Mishra and SP Bansal. However, the inquiry is still in the initial stage but notices to all these officials could be sent for interrogation.

The inquiry has triggered panic among KESCo officials, specially those of the accounts department. Special instructions have been issued to officials of the accounts department to maintain silence on the issue. The enormity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that GM MP Tripathi, one of the members of the committee constituted to investigate the matter, did not answer any telephone calls. All attempts made to contact Tripathi failed as he did not receive the calls made on his cell phone.

However, managing director of KESCo Arun feigned ignorance about the matter when contacted.

“ I have recently taken over charge as KESCo MD and I am not aware of the issue. I will look into the matter,” stated Arun.