A major financial irregularity has surfaced in Akodha Khurd village, where a suspended VPDO, the suspended village Pradhan and her husband allegedly authorised a payment of ₹4,65,256 from the gram sabha account despite being removed from their posts. The payment was linked to the construction of three village roads and was confirmed during a departmental inquiry.
According to the complaint filed by ADO Panchayat Rachna, VPDO Shankardeep was suspended on 10 October after irregularities were detected in road construction. He was relieved from Bhagwanpur block and placed under suspension by DPRO Atul Pratap Singh. However, a complaint filed through the CM Helpline by Sumit Khatri revealed that on 12 October—two days after his suspension—the VPDO, along with village Pradhan Basanti Devi and her husband Pawan Kumar, jointly processed the payment from the gram sabha account.
The inquiry confirmed the allegation, after which DPRO directed action. Police have now registered an FIR against suspended VPDO Shankardeep, suspended village Pradhan Basanti Devi, and her husband Pawan Kumar. Kotwali in-charge Rajeev Rawthan said an investigation is underway.
Earlier, the departmental inquiry had already exposed irregularities in road construction work. While the VPDO was suspended on 10 October, the village Pradhan was suspended on 17 October for failing to submit necessary documents despite repeated notices. She had approached the High Court against her suspension but did not receive any relief.
The inquiry report also referenced earlier media coverage highlighting the initial suspension of the VPDO. It noted that even after being suspended, he attended a gram sabha meeting, after which officials issued him the suspension order formally.
