Bidar, 26 September

With gram panchayat terms ending, allegations of misuse of funds appear to be on the rise, with a massive alleged scam coming to light in Bidar. 

The alleged fraud in Chandori Gram Panchayat, Kamalanagar taluk, Bidar district, has now snowballed into a major scandal. Records show over Rs 20 lakh was credited to a single account in June 2026 alone from 14th Finance Commission funds, triggering suspicion.

According to the FIR filed at Kushnoor police station on 24 September, PDO Sheshappa complained that after learning of forged-signature transfers in Korekal Gram Panchayat, he, along with administrator Kashinath Rathod and former PDO Basappa Mural, verified accounts at Canara Bank, Sangam Cross, on 23 September.

They found that since February, account no. 5347101221826 had made several RTGS transfers to various accounts, for a total amount of RS 48,92,270. 

Bank staff reportedly said tax collector Mahadev of Halhalli had obtained cheque books in the PDO’s name and made the transfers.

Bidar Zilla Panchayat CEO Gitte Madhav Vitthala Rao told Salar News that Mahadev was arrested on Friday.

Rural Development Minister Eshwar B Khandre has ordered a probe and said that the records of all gram panchayats should be checked, noting a similar transfer allegation in Korekal Gram Panchayat, with the amount there totalling Rs 48.92 lakh.