Following the conclusion of an investigation, the state government has taken disciplinary action against a former Block Development Officer (BDO) of Chatra, who was found guilty of financial irregularities in schemes including MGNREGA, Deendayal Awas Yojana and the management of school funds.
The government has ordered a 20 per cent lifetime deduction from the former officer's pension. Additionally, a special audit of the case has been mandated. If the audit confirms that embezzlement occurred, the full amount will be recovered from the individual.
The case dates back to 2014, when the then-Deputy Commissioner of Chatra first framed the charges. An audit had revealed that cheques totaling Rs 1.30 crore were issued for various schemes, but these transactions were never recorded in the official cash register (rokadpanji). The investigation also found further accounting lapses amounting to approximately Rs 1.80 crore in other schemes managed by the block under the officer's supervision.
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Initially, a penalty of a 50 per cent lifetime pension deduction was proposed. However, after reviewing the former BDO's explanation and the Deputy Commissioner's report, the state government consulted the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC). The JPSC recommended the 20 per cent lifetime pension deduction and the special audit. The commission further advised that if embezzlement is proven, the government should recover the misappropriated funds from the officer. The state government has now formally approved all of these recommendations.