Malkhed PDO accused of swindling gram panchayat funds

A former gram panchayat member and social activist Umesh Chavan has said that have been serious financial irregularities and swindling of funds in Malkhed Gram Panchayat and sought action against Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Dashrath Patre.

Mr. Chavan, addressing presspersons in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, said that based on his written complaint about funds misutilisation, the Executive Officer of the Sedam Taluk Panchayat formed a four-member inquiry committee in January 2026 for carrying out a detailed probe.

The committee visited the gram panchayat, checked records and vouchers and submitted a report on February 4.

“Several complaints have been submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner and other senior officials. Despite this, no action has been taken against the PDO, raising questions about the possible complicity of senior officials and political leaders.”Umesh Chavan,Former GP member

Citing the findings of the report, Mr. Chavan said that during 2025-26, funds released under the 15th Finance Commission have been swindled by attaching vouchers and showing expenditure.

He said that in October 2025, ₹1,13,78,562 was misappropriated and ₹41,90,106 collected as tax revenue during the same period was diverted. The total misuse of funds stands at ₹1,55,68,668, he added.

He said that the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer forwarded the inquiry report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat on February 5, recommending disciplinary action against the PDO Patre.

However, no action has been taken so far, he said.

Mr. Chavan also accused the PDO of committing irregularities in auctioning commercial shops, recording fake biometric attendance of members in Panchatantra 2.0 without convening meetings and misusing funds meant for persons with disabilities.

“Several complaints have been submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner and other senior officials. Despite this, no action has been taken against the PDO, raising questions about the possible complicity of senior officials and political leaders,” Mr. Chavan said.

Stating that the PDO has been threatening members and the public with dire consequences, Mr. Chavan urged the authorities to register a criminal case against Patre, recover the misappropriated funds, constitute a special investigation team to probe into his assets and take immediate disciplinary action against him.