Daijiworld Media Network – Brahmavar

Brahmavar, July 6: Hiriyadka police have arrested a couple for allegedly embezzling Rs 23 lac from the Padma Kamala Sanjeevini Grama Panchayat Level Federation at Perdoor under the Hiriyadka police station limits.

According to the police, the prime accused, Sugandhi, was employed as the chief book writer of the Federation. During her tenure between 2023 and 2025, she allegedly collected loan repayment amounts from members and entered the transactions in the repayment register without depositing the money into the Federation’s bank account.

Police further alleged that she forged the signatures of the Federation’s president and secretary on cheques issued in the names of various self-help groups and withdrew funds from the bank.

To prevent the fraud from being detected during audits and scrutiny by the Federation’s executive committee, she allegedly maintained parallel loan account books and fabricated financial records.

The total amount allegedly misappropriated is estimated at Rs 23 lac, which the accused are believed to have diverted for personal use.

Based on a complaint, Hiriyadka police registered Crime No. 39/2026 under Sections 316(4), 318, 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Acting under the directions of Udupi sub-division deputy superintendent of police Belliyappa K U and the supervision of inspector Gopikrishna, a police team led by PSI Puneeth Kumar B E and PSI (investigation) Vitthal Malavadkar arrested Sugandhi and her husband, Santosh, on July 6. The couple has been taken into custody for questioning.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the husband and wife allegedly acted in connivance to forge signatures and prepare fabricated documents in the names of various federation members to facilitate the fraud.

Further investigation is under way.