HDMC staffer in hot soup over groceries scam

Hubballi: Government officials are often caught accepting a bribe or for their involvement in scams, but this officer working in Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation adopted an ingenious way to cheat by purchasing groceries on credit in the name of the commissioner.

He bought groceries for his house from a shop in M G market here through last year. He used them without a hint to the commissioner. Now, he has incurred the wrath of councillors who have recommended punitive action against him.

V.N. Raikar has been working as market inspector in the municipal corporation and is on the verge of retirement. Fakeerchand Mahajan, a merchant, supplied groceries worth more than Rs 1 lakh to his house. Later, he approached the office of the municipal commissioner for settlement of bills only to hear from the commissioner that he never purchased any groceries from his shop.

The officer has paid around Rs 58,000 to the merchant after the latter frequented his house and office for more than two months. He approached the Mayor and commissioner seeking action against the officer for failing to settle the remaining amount. Finally, the officer paid the entire amount and also admitted his mistake in an undertaking to the municipal corporation.

“The market inspector has misused the name of the commissioner for purchase of groceries. I have received a complaint against him. But, I cannot take direct action against him though he has admitted his mistake. Therefore, I have forwarded his confession letter to the commissioner about wrongdoings. The municipal commissioner will soon initiate action against him,” Mayor Ashvini Majjagi said.