Rajouri, July 3: The Block Development Officer Manjakote in Rajouri district was locked in his office chamber by some political activists on Saturday and was allegedly forced to sign the IAY cheque in the name of their relatives and domestic servants against the norms and regulations. However, the situation was pacified by the assistant development commissioner Rajouri after he reached on the spot.
 Sources said, some political activists of a ruling political party led by their local leader locked the BDO in his office when he refused to sign the cheques of IAY cases sanctioned in the names of relatives and some servants of a local party leader. Feeling the gravity of the situation, sources said, BDO signed all cheque as desired by the local party leader and handed them over without verifying the records. However, when the matter came to the knowledge of Assistant Development Commissioner Rajouri, Subhash Sharma, he reached on the spot and got his officer released from the captivity.
 When contacted Subhash Sharma admitted that his subordinate officer was forced by a local politician to sign the cheques in favour of his relatives and servants. “Though the cheques have been issued to the concerned politician, but we have asked the banks not to make payments till the records were verified.”
 Sources said, most of the IAY cases of the kins of politicians had been cleared on priority. The locals have appealed to the minister for rural development to initiate probe into the matter personally book the accused. Similar complaints have been received from Darhal block of the district also.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST