Two cases of alleged misuse of subsidy provided by the Department of Tourism for purchase of tourist taxis by furnishing fake certificates and affidavits have been reported in the district.
The Tourism Department provides Rs. 2 lakh each as subsidy to unemployed youths from Scheduled Caste under a Special Component Plan for purchasing tourist taxi. L. Hanuma Naik, Assistant Director of the Department of Tourism, has lodged a complaint against Ranjitha, resident of Chikkamaradi village, and Shashikumar from Malavagoppa village, with Tunga Nagar police, alleging that the duo furnished fake certificates for availing themselves of the benefits of the subsidy scheme.
In the complaint, Mr. Naik has said that the father of Ms. Ranjitha belonged to Maratha community and her mother belonged to Bhovi community, which was among the Scheduled Castes. As per the law, the caste of children is the same as that of their father. Accordingly, Ms. Ranjitha should be identified as belonging to the caste of her father.
Meanwhile, Ms. Ranjitha had availed herself of the benefits of Rs. 2 lakh subsidy provided to youths belonging to Scheduled Caste.
In another incident, Shashikumar had taken the subsidy provided for purchasing a commercial vehicle by allegedly furnishing a fake affidavit stating that none of his family members was holding a government job. Based on complaints filed by the public, the department issued notices to the duo on February 18, directing them to return the subsidy amount. As the duo failed to return the money, Mr. Naik lodged a complaint against them.
The police have registered cases against the accused under Section 420 of Indian Penal Code and column 5(A) and 6(A) of the
Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes Reservation Act.
They allegedly produced fake certificates to get
the benefit
