THRISSUR: Guruvayur Devaswom Board which is already facing several allegations of corruption and maladministration is now mired in a controversy over missing of files related to the annual financial aid the board gives to orphanages and rescue homes. The missing files was last traced to the office of chief finance and accounts officer (CFAO), the second highest executive officer in board who has come on deputation from accountant general's office to the Devaswoms on the basis of report filed by S. Krishnan Unni commission which was constituted by High Court in 1993 in view of allegations of rampant corruption in the Devaswom.
The missing files contain the details of Rs 25 lakh, the board had given as aid to several rescue homes and orphanages across Kerala last year. According to inside sources, the file is of utmost importance because the contract for supplying food for the aid distribution function held on December 29 last year was allegedly given by overlooking the board guidelines without proper tendering process. Acting on a complaint in this regard, Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee chairman K.B. Mohandas had sought a report on the issue from the CFAO.
"Issues like these point to the lackadaisical manner in which matters are dealt in the board. On the basis of commission report, a CFAO and two deputy assistant audit officers along with officer of Kerala Audit Fund (Local Audit Fund) has been posted in GD for several years now. Even then, the issue of anomalies and objections during audit is not yet solved," Venugopal Pazhoor, who heads Prathikarana Vedi, a devotees' organization of the Lord Sree Krishna Temple said.
Allegations baseless, says CFAO
CFAO of GD, V. Narayanankutty told DC that some files were missing and it would be recovered soon. He further said that only the files regarding the contract for the supply of food were missing and the cost for it was less than Rs 1 lakh. "The function to distribute the aid was arranged in haste by the former managing committee and hence there may be some procedural lapses. Certainly, the GDMC will be convinced about it," he added.
