A tahsildar, M. Ananthi, who was placed under suspension since April 2010, was removed from service, sources said here on Friday.
Officials said that the lady officer, who got her promotion on 1.1.2010 as tahsildar, was posted in the Collectorate as Tahsildar (Social Security Schemes). Under this, the officer had to discharge duties of disbursement of government assistance to the economically weaker sections and needy people.
Applicants seeking, such as, Old Age Pension (OAP), Distress Relief Fund, Widow Pension and among others are handled by the Tahsildar (SSS). On receipt of these petitions, the officer would forward them to Revenue Inspectors and VAOs of the respective localities for field inspection.
However, the charge against Ananthi was that she engaged some brokers and directly collected petitions from public by going to their villages thus keeping the officials under her. After about a week or so, with the assistance of the brokers, she picked the beneficiaries in a vehicle to a designated bank. After withdrawing the cash, the beneficiaries were given Rs 1000, while the official siphoned off Rs 9000. Many villagers, who were taken to the bank, were unaware about the money withdrawn, investigations revealed.
When the issue came to light, the then Collector Kamaraj had ordered a probe by an official in the rank of Deputy Collector. Based on the findings, the lady tahsildar was placed under suspension in April 2010. After inquiries held by a panel of revenue officials, it was revealed that the suspended officer had created bogus death certificates between January and April 2010 and siphoned off to the tune of around Rs 10 lakh. She had indulged in impersonation and also got the money issued in fake names.
There was an inquiry held by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption police as well during that period and the Communists had pasted posters appealing to the Madurai district administration to check on the corrupt practices of the official in Othakadai and other areas then, officials said.
Based on the reports, the Collector Anshul Mishra had issued orders removing Ananthi from service, the officials added.
Eom.
