Rs 19 lakh misappropriated from government funds; Former Industrial Development Officer fired

Thrissur: A former district industrial development officer arrested in a case of embezzling Rs 19 lakh from government funds has been dismissed from service. Bindu (47) was dismissed from Pathanamthitta Adoor Ezhamkulam Panikassery, where he worked as an Industrial Development Officer in Thrissur and later as an Industrial Extension Officer in Vadakara Industrial Estate. He was arrested a year and a half ago in this case.

While working as a liquidator at the Thrissur District Industrial Estate, Bindu was appointed as the Administrator to manage the management of Indian coffee houses. Later, while she was the liquidator of the Thrissur Town Women’s Industrial Co-operative Society, she transferred Rs 19 lakh to her own account. The case was registered following its discovery. 22.8 lakh was deposited in the name of the liquidator at the Thrissur Ayyanthol State Bank branch. This was the proceeds from the sale of the premises of the Thrissur Town Women’s Industrial Estate to the Thrissur Corporation. It was found that this amount was often transferred to the personal accounts of Bindu and her husband.

At the departmental level, the total amount in the liquidator’s account was Rs 2.97 lakh. The Director of Commerce and Industry then showed this and gave notice to Bindu. Suspended because explanation was unsatisfactory. Bindu’s withdrawal through high-level intervention without even repaying the money while he was suspended was also controversial. The action was limited to relocation to Kozhikode district. He was once more suspended following his arrest.