In a move Maharashtra`s Jalna district as many as 21 talathis and clerks have been suspended over alleged irregularities in the disbursal of relief assistance for unseasonal rains, state minister Makrand Jadhav announced on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, responding to a question in the legislative council, the state relief and rehabilitation minister detailed that the government had allocated Rs 522.29 crore to Jalna district for losses incurred due to unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and other natural calamities during 2022-23. Of this sum, Rs 112.63 crore was earmarked for Ambad and Rs 11.77 crore for Ghansawangi, and it was from these two talukas that complaints about fund disbursal irregularities have been emerged.

Moreover, Jadhav confirmed that a committee, formed in January this year to investigate the matter, while the investigation found the irregularities in 122 of 138 villages in Ambad and 59 of 115 villages in Ghansawangi talukas. While an interim probe report submitted in April further revealed that Rs 34.97 crore was transferred into 14,549 account holders` accounts.