Belgavi: Alleging that the funds released by the government as compensation to the farmers were inappropriately used by 39 officials of revenue and agriculture departments including two revenue inspectors in Gokak taluk, the DC N Jayaram has issued show cause notices, recently.

The state government had released compensation to the farmers, those who lost crops to the heavy rainfall with hailstones in February and March-2014. However after an RTI activist Bhimappa Gadad had exposed the scam in the month of September-2014, the notice followed.

Notices have been issued to  Nesargi and P S Kulkarni, revenue inspectors, of Arabhavi and Koujalagi hoblis in Gokak taluk, besides 23 village accountants and 14 assistant agriculture officers under the Karnataka Civil Services Rules. 

The district administration had set up an investigation committee under the headship of Bailhongal AC Vijaykumar Honkeri. Honakeri submitted inquiry report fortnight ago to the DC. Notices have been issued on Thursday to the concerned government officials based on inquiry report asking explanation within one week.

Compensation of Rs 36.50 crores was sanctioned to Arabhavi assembly constituency in Gokak taluk by the state and central governments. Bhimappa Gadad exposed misappropriation of Rs 2.53 crores funds in the distribution of compensation by violating the guidelines.

An inquiry committee has discovered violation in distribution  in 19 villages of Arabhavi revenue circle limits and 21 villages in Koujalagi revenue circle limit.