ACB flags major irregularities in Jagtial Municipality; revenue gaps, missing vehicles under scanner

Jagtial: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Karimnagar Range, unearthed multiple irregularities during a surprise check at the office of the Municipal Commissioner in Jagtial on Tuesday.

The inspection exposed significant lapses in revenue collection, record maintenance and administrative functioning, prompting the agency to initiate a detailed probe.

Huge revenue shortfall raises concern

Officials found a substantial gap in tax collection for the 2025–26 financial year. While property tax demand stood at Rs 14.76 crore, only Rs 7.52 crore was collected, leaving a balance of Rs 7.23 crore.

Similarly, of Rs 2.35 crore due from shopping complex properties, only Rs 1.43 crore was realised. Overall, against a total demand of Rs 17.19 crore, nearly Rs 8.23 crore remains uncollected.

Missing vehicles, no complaints filed

The ACB detected serious negligence in asset management.

Four APE autos have reportedly been missing since 2022 and a tractor since 2020. Shockingly, no complaints have been lodged nor any action initiated so far.

Financial irregularities in vehicle maintenance

The inquiry revealed that cheques for vehicle repairs were issued in the name of an Assistant Engineer instead of authorised service providers, violating treasury norms.

In addition, municipal vehicles were routinely sent to a private automobile service centre in Karimnagar rather than using local facilities.

Poor maintenance of records

Several lapses were found in documentation and monitoring:

- Vehicle logbooks were either not maintained or incomplete

- Fuel usage and odometer readings were not properly recorded

- Attendance registers were poorly maintained

- Staff were not regularly using biometric attendance systems

No fresh tenders for 18 years

The municipality has 194 shops in its commercial complex, but authorities have not conducted fresh tenders for the past 18 years, violating norms that mandate renewal every three years. Moreover, records of rent collection from these shops were found to be incomplete.

Suspicious financial transactions flagged

During scrutiny of staff mobile phones, ACB officials detected suspicious UPI transactions worth around Rs 1 lakh linked to a Deputy Executive Engineer between July 2025 and recent months. These transactions are currently under verification.

LRS applications pile up

Out of 9,047 Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) applications received, only 1,003 have been approved, while 206 were rejected. As many as 735 applications remain pending at various stages despite 1,944 applicants paying processing fees.

Procurement and stock management lapses

Irregularities were also observed in procurement processes:

- No proper stock or distribution registers for staff uniforms

- No records maintained for chemicals used in fogging

- Stationery purchases lacked valid GST bills and proper documentation

Lack of monitoring on plastic seizure

Authorities failed to maintain records related to the seizure and recycling of single-use plastics, raising questions about the enforcement of environmental regulations.

The ACB stated that additional verification is in progress to determine the full extent of irregularities and fix accountability. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the government recommending action against responsible officials.

Public urged to report corruption

The ACB has urged citizens to report any demand for bribes by public servants through its toll-free helpline 1064 or via WhatsApp (9440446106) and social media platforms. Officials assured that complainants’ identities will be kept confidential.