One more held for fund fraud

Thiruvananthapuram: One more corporation staff was arrested by police in connection with fund fraud in corporation zonal offices here on Thursday. Georgekutty, who was employed as corporation staff at Attipra zonal office, was held by Kazhakootam police reportedly from Rajaji Nagar on Thursday evening. The police are yet to record the arrest of Georgekutty and according to officials his arrest will be recorded on Friday.
The police said that Georgekutty was absconding but they tracked his phone to Rajaji Nagar. He was suspended on September 29 for alleged fund fraud. Audit wing had found out that an amount of Rs 1.09 lakh was missing from the corporation account and it was collected on December 11,2020. The cashier was given a memo and it was found that Georgekutty failed to deposit the collection amount in the corporation’s account.
The charge officer who was then employed at Attipra zonal office and later transferred to Kollam was recently placed under suspension by the director of urban affairs. The corporation had recommended to the urban affairs director that a show cause notice may be issued to her; however the director placed the official under suspension.
Meanwhile, the members’ indefinite hunger strike went on for the second day while the UDF has also intensified the protests. The manner in which the protests have swelled beyond the control of the ruling council has been a setback for them.
Protests against fund fraud have gathered momentum in the corporation council. A protest march by Youth congress workers turned slightly violent on Thursday.
The council is being held on Friday when 35 BJP councillors are fasting in the council hall and it remains to be seen whether the mayor will seek police assistance in removing the councillors from the hall.