Housing scam: Officials to cough up loss

SANGAREDDY: Cracking the whip on those involved in swindling of funds under the Indiramma Housing scheme, the district administration has set up special recovery teams to collect the money from 89 officials and 928 beneficiaries besides booking cases against officials involved in the fraud.In Medak district, officials and beneficiaries have colluded and misappropriated `4.5 crores. The recovery process will begin next week while criminal cases have been slapped on seven officials.The fraud came to light in a third party inquiry which pegged the misappropriated figure at `4.5 crores, which was drawn on benami people, but the actual amount may be twice to what was revealed, says a senior official.The party commission, set up by the State Government to probe into the swindling of funds, has conducted inquiries at Zaheerabad, Narayankhed, Andhol, Dubbaka and in Medak and found out that huge amount was drawn on fictitious names and was done in collusion with employees and beneficiaries.   The inquiry officials found out that not a single house was constructed at some places though money was drawn and records were showing that there were tens of houses that were built under Indiramma scheme.  Though there were incidents of misappropriation in other constituencies as well, it was not very alarming, the official said.Self-help groups who were involved in payments during elections and their records were also put to scrutiny. Some SHGs are yet to send in the data requisitioned.Officials are firm on recovering the swindled Rs 4.5 crores and set up special teams for doing so. Notices were served on 86 employees and 928 beneficiaries and a case was slapped on an official besides sacking seven contract employees. Until now, officials have recovered only Rs 80,000.