CAOs office opened due to pressure

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s Chief Accounts Officers’ (CADO) office, which was locked by the members of the Standing Committee on Finance over alleged irregularities on Monday, was opened on Tuesday due to ‘political pressure’.Sources from BBMP said the committee members were forced to open the office following pressure from the ruling party at around 11 pm on Tuesday.“When we approached Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda, he told us that he is ready to suspend the officials concerned. But we do not want the suspension of the officials. If they are suspended, they get reinstated without any difficulty. We want BBMP’s accounting system to work in a proper manner,” a member said. Shankarlinge Gowda said he had not received any report from the committee on the irregularities.“If they submit a report, and if irregularities are found, I will take necessary action against the authorities concerned,” he stated.Members of the committee had locked the CAO’s office on Monday as the officials did not provide some details they had sought. The members saw some important letters, dating back to six or seven months, lying unattended in the office. They also saw a DD returned by a bank to BBMP lying there for four months.Further, Joint Commissioner’s (Welfare) letter to the CAO requesting change in cheque sanctioned to Justice A J Sadashiva Commission’s survey was lying there untouched for three months.The Standing Committee on Finance members, noticing these things, had locked the CAO’s office doors.