Sports Authority of Telangana paying salaries to ghost security guards

Hyderabad: Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) is paying ghost security guards of Gachibowli stadium almost Rs 2 lakh per month. The expansive Gachibowli stadium -an important sporting hub lacks safeguarding as the contracting agency has been misusing funds from the government, in the name of ghost security guards. SATS has been paying for more than 42 staff members while the register shows attendance for only 22 members. For the month of July 2018, 49 members were paid salaries by SATS but not even 20 members were working in both day and night shifts.

An employee anonymously with records of attendance and details wrote a letter to the SATS chairman raising an alarm on the irregularities. SATS chairman A Venkateshwar Reddy confirmed receiving the letter and the related documentation. This paper gained access to the documents and letter in which it is alleged that the Xpert Facility Services which is the executing agency has not deployed sufficient staff and has been diverting the funds. It has been alleged that about Rs 2 lakh government funds are being sidetracked. The security staff are paid in the range of Rs 6,000—8,000.

The letter held LB Stadium Administrative officer (AO) retired employee Vimalakar, Gachibowli stadium administrator V. Srinivas and Gachibowli stadium assistant security officer Surrender Reddy responsible.

This also has led to the additional burden on the existing staff to keep the premises clean.

SATS chairman said that he has been notified about the issue and an inquiry will be taken up and action will be taken accordingly on the agency.

Not so long ago, SATS officials have been under the scrutiny of Anti Corruption Bureau, following the medical seats scam where SATS officers was booked for prioritizing non-eligible candidates which helped them secure expensive medical seat for lesser amount.