Says Rs 47 lakh ‘cash in hand’ missing from records
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
In the wake of revelations that the Calangute panchayat has not undergone a financial audit for the past 10 years, former panchayat member Sudesh Mayekar has called for immediate government intervention and demanded the appointment of an administrator to investigate what he described as a “financial mess.”
Mayekar, reacting to a report published by The Goan, said the situation was dire and indicative of complete administrative collapse within the panchayat.
He claimed that during his tenure, it had come to light that Rs 47 lakh shown as “cash in hand” was unaccounted for and allegedly missing from the panchayat’s records.
He said a police complaint was lodged by then secretary Raguvir Bagkar, and the Director of Panchayats was informed about the discrepancy.
“This is not just negligence. If Rs 47 lakh in cash is missing, no auditor will be willing to sign off on the accounts. The government must step in and appoint an administrator to conduct a thorough probe into the panchayat’s functioning and financial irregularities,” Mayekar stated.
The Directorate of Accounts, in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query, revealed that the Calangute panchayat has failed to conduct audits from 2014-15 to 2023-24.
The department cited repeated non-cooperation by the panchayat, including failure to provide necessary records and documents, as the primary reason for the audit backlog.
Mayekar further alleged that the panchayat was being run like a “private limited company,” with no transparency or accountability in its financial dealings.
He urged the State government to act swiftly, warning that continued inaction could result in a deeper financial crisis.
