Girish Badole, the District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer, has issued an order suspending Ramesh Milindkar, the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) for Hulsoor Gram Panchayat in Basavakalyan taluk of Bidar. This decisive action follows serious allegations that Milindkar violated government guidelines, particularly those pertaining to the significant 15th Finance Commission scheme.
The suspension stems from a formal complaint by Gram Panchayat member Devendra B. Pawar. Pawar alleged that the PDO created an action plan for the 2024–25 15th Finance Commission scheme and proceeded with its execution without the mandatory Gram Sabha meeting or the necessary consent from other panchayat members. Furthermore, Milindkar is accused of making payments for various works without proper authorization and repeatedly failing to provide transparent accounting details despite multiple requests.
According to the complainant, approximately ₹22 lakh was spent from one account, with an additional ₹37 lakh utilized under the 15th Finance Commission without proper oversight. These alleged financial irregularities prompted panchayat members to stage a protest outside the Hulsoor gram panchayat office in September, demanding a thorough investigation. They formally submitted a memorandum to the Zilla Panchayat CEO outlining their concerns.
A subsequent joint inspection validated these concerns, providing strong initial evidence (prima facie) that the PDO, who also held the position of Grade-I Secretary for Mirkhal gram panchayat, had indeed misused public funds. The report indicated clear breaches of established rules and procedures.
In light of these findings, the CEO promptly ordered the suspension of Ramesh Milindkar. A full departmental inquiry will now proceed in accordance with the Karnataka Civil Services Rules (KCSR). Milindkar has been explicitly forbidden from leaving the headquarters during his suspension period without explicit prior approval from the authorities.