Municipal councillor booked for misappropriation of meals coupons in Cherthala

The Cherthala police have registered a case in opposition to M.M. Saju, councillor of Ward 25 of Cherthala Municipality, for allegedly misusing meals coupons distributed beneath a authorities welfare scheme for very poor households.

A criticism filed by the municipal secretary accused the councillor of misappropriating coupons price ₹22,000 that had been meant to supply important groceries to recognized beneficiaries.

The State authorities had launched the scheme in December 2023, beneath which households labeled as being in excessive poverty had been supplied meals coupons price ₹500 every month. The coupons could possibly be used to buy grocery gadgets, excluding rice, from Supplyco retailers. In every ward, the councillor was responsiblefor distributing the coupons to eligible households.

In Ward 25, three households had been recognized as beneficiaries. However, throughout a current survey, certainly one of them reported not having obtained any coupons to this point.

Following an inside inquiry, the secretary discovered that two out of the three beneficiaries had not obtained their coupons, although information confirmed that the councillor had collected them each month.

The DYFI staged a protest demanding an in depth investigation into the alleged misuse. The DYFI additionally distributed meals kits to the affected households on Saturday, mentioned its zonal secretary A.R. Arunkumar.

Police officers confirmed {that a} case has been registered and that the councillor’s assertion will probably be recorded within the coming days.