Haveri: Zilla panchayat CEO Ruchi Bindal suspended Basangouda Patil, the grade-1 secretary and PDO (in-charge) of Anaji gram panchayat in Rattihalli taluk, for dereliction of duty. Despite district authorities reserving 2.1 acres in the village for a burial ground, Patil submitted a proposal to construct houses on the land. He accepted a bribe via PhonePe for issuing e-property documents in the GP. Additionally, as a govt employee, he violated regulations by posting political messages on his WhatsApp status and illegally appointed a tax collector in the GP. Moreover, he failed to pay wages to labourers under the MGNREGA scheme, prompting villagers to complain to the office. In response to the public complaint and after reviewing the application, Bindal issued the suspension order.
