Patna: A major financial scandal has come to light in Bihar after a Panchayat secretary from Patna district was accused of misusing a large amount of government money. Ramakant Giri, who was working as the Panchayat Secretary in Masaurhi block, is alleged to have embezzled Rs 1,06,44,321 from government funds. Following a detailed inquiry, the District Magistrate ordered that an FIR be registered against him. The complaint was filed at the Masaurhi police station by Block Development Officer (BDO) Prabhakar Kumar.
The case is linked to the financial year 2020–21, when Giri was posted in Mokama block and was in charge of 15 panchayats. During that time, funds were released under the 15th Finance Commission for important village projects such as drinking water supply, drainage, sanitation, roads, and the construction of panchayat buildings. However, officials say that no proper audits were carried out and no financial records were submitted. Because of this, there is no clear information on how or where the money was spent.
When these irregularities came to light, the District Magistrate ordered a full investigation. The inquiry found that Giri had failed to follow government rules, did not cooperate with officials, and did not provide any explanation for the missing funds. Based on these findings, the District Magistrate not only ordered the filing of an FIR but also terminated Giri’s service from the government. This action was taken to ensure that strict steps are taken against misuse of public money.
Officials also revealed that a similar case is already pending against Giri in Bakhtiyarpur block. There too, he is accused of misusing funds meant for development works like water supply, drainage, road construction, and a panchayat building. According to BDO Prabhakar Kumar, no audits were conducted and no accounts were submitted in those cases either. The incident has raised serious questions about transparency and monitoring in rural development schemes, and authorities have said they will strengthen checks so that government funds are used honestly for the benefit of the people.
