Thiruvananthapuram: A vigilance probe has been ordered into financial misappropriation in Advocates Welfare Fund that could potentially run into crores of rupees. The fund, raised through rich proceeds from court fees and sale of vakalath (authorisation) stamps, is meant for the benefit of retired advocates and is handled by Bar Council of Kerala.
According to a copy of the file in this regard accessed by TOI under Right to Information Act, the chief minister recommended the vigilance inquiry after the law department found that several books of accounts are missing and that available records indicated misappropriation to the tune of Rs 70 lakh. “Based on the report of the auditor, it is evident that the books of accounts are missing. Documents are missing, many other relevant materials are missing and reconstruction of records would be necessary to ascertain the amount of money lost. The accounts which were available indicate that there were corrections in the account to the tune of Rs 70 lakh,” the file submitted to the chief minister said. Top government sources said that the misappropriation would run into crores if properly investigated, and the current figure was arrived at only on the basis of available records.
