Chitradurga: In a major administrative scandal, the Chitradurga Urban Development Cell has come under scrutiny following allegations that it misused the digital signatures of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) to submit fake bills. The incident, which has sent shockwaves across the district administration, involves a total financial fraud of approximately Rs. 15 lakh. An FIR has been lodged against six individuals, five of whom have already been taken into custody, while the primary accused, Syed Sadiq, remains absconding. The investigation into the matter is currently underway.
According to police sources, the fraudulent activity was uncovered when the Treasury Department noticed irregularities in the digital signatures on the submitted bills. The fake bills, allegedly created in the name of salaries for the City Level Technical Cell (CLTC) staff under the District Urban Development Cell, triggered immediate scrutiny from the authorities. The case has been registered at the Chitradurga City Police Station, following a complaint lodged by Reshma Hangal, the Director of the Urban Development Cell.
The six individuals named in the FIR include outsourced employees Syed Sadiq, Vinay Sharma, Vijay Kumar, Basavaraj, Mehboob Bhasha, and Venkatesh from VMH Enterprises. The police have successfully apprehended five of the accused, while Syed Sadiq is reportedly evading arrest. Officials have highlighted that the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) keys of the District Magistrate and ADC were allegedly stolen from the DC office and used to authenticate these fraudulent bills.
District Magistrate T. Venkatesh confirmed that a detailed probe is in progress and assured that stringent legal action would be taken against all those found guilty. “We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness. Misuse of digital signatures undermines the integrity of government operations, and no compromise will be made,” he stated.
The Chitradurga City Police have begun interrogating the arrested employees to ascertain the full scope of the scam and identify any other individuals who may have been complicit in the illegal activity. Sources indicate that the accused had coordinated to fabricate bills so they appeared to be officially sanctioned, bypassing routine verification processes.
Experts point out that misuse of digital signatures is a serious offence under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and can carry severe penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines. Legal analysts say that this case could serve as a warning for other government offices to strengthen internal security protocols, especially regarding sensitive digital credentials.
The incident has also raised questions about the internal monitoring mechanisms within the Urban Development Cell. Officials are reportedly reviewing the entire payroll and bill submission process to prevent any recurrence of such fraudulent activities. There is growing demand from civic groups and opposition parties for accountability and transparency, with calls for an independent inquiry into the department’s administrative practices.
Residents of Chitradurga have expressed shock and concern over the incident, noting that such scams erode public trust in government institutions. Many have urged stricter enforcement of digital security measures and more rigorous oversight to ensure that public funds are not misappropriated in the future.
Meanwhile, the police are intensifying their search for Syed Sadiq, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Authorities have appealed to anyone with information about his location to come forward. “Our priority is to bring all accused to justice and ensure that such acts of fraud are not repeated in any government department,” a senior police officer stated.
