Former project officer of FRIENDS Janasevana Kendram operating at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor was arrested by the police on charges of corruption on Monday.
Sashi of Vaduthala, Kochi was absconding after police registered a case against him few months back.
According to police officials, the money from the bills of BSNL, KSEB, Water Authority and Motor Vehicles Department, paid by the public at the Janasevana Kendram were diverted by Sashi for his personal use.
“The money received from the counters should be entered in the register book and it has to be deposited in the bank account of each department the very next day.
“However, the accused did not deposit the money at the bank and used it for his personal requirements. When each department asked him for the money, he came up with excuses for it. When several other officials in the Janasevana Kendram asked him about it, he warned them not to intervene in his official matters.
A few months ago, when he was transferred from here, the new project officer who took charge found mismatches in the money deposited at the accounts.
On several occasions, Sashi failed to deposit as much as Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts. The new project officer later filed a complaint with the police in this regard and informed the higher ups”, a police official said.
However on the same day when the complaint was recorded at the Palarivattom police station, Sashi trespassed to the office of the new project officer and took away all the documents.
The state IT Mission, on the basis of the allegation, suspended him from service. Fearing arrest, he went into hiding.
There were also allegations against Sashi while he was serving at MG University.
According to police, Sashi was suspended from the service for few months for misappropriation of funds at MG University.
The police, in their investigation, said that misappropriation of more than Rs 15 lakh has taken place.
IT mission has decided to conduct a detailed audit to find out the exact amount he swindled from the Janasevana Kendaram in Kaloor.
Sashi was produced before the court and was remanded in judicial custody.