Representative image | Photo: CR Gireesh/Mathurbhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: The home department has alleged serious irregularities in utilisation of funds by the state police chief. The department has allegedly spent lakhs on construction works without the permission of the government. According to the government, the DGP has the responsibility of the misappropriation of funds.
The government had approved Rs 24 lakh for increasing the height of the wall around the vegetable garden at the state police academy. After the completion of the project, there was a balance of Rs 4 lakh from the fund provided.
The police chief ordered the construction of an amphitheatre at the police academy using this amount and another Rs 4 lakh that was remaining from the earlier allocation for renovation of the mess hall. The government was not informed about this.
The police chief also approved the renovation of a vehicle shed at the academy with the Rs 1 lakh that was left after the construction of the amphitheatre. The government was not intimated about this either.
Later, the police chief sent a letter to the government seeking approval for these works. The home department criticised the DGP in its reply to the letter. It stated that there have been several instances of similar violations on the part of police earlier also.
As per the rule, the plan and estimate of every construction project should be submitted to the government and It should be approved. The fund approved for one project should not be used for any other purposes. The balance amount has to be repaid to the revenue department.
In the reply letter, the government said that the police department has the responsibility to comply with this. Otherwise, the police chief and other concerned officers have the responsibility of the violation of rules, it said.
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