The financial records of Chittoor Zilla Parishad have come into question after auditors have raised 98 objections involving ₹66.36 crore of expenditure during 2024-25. Their report has cited lapses in record-keeping, payments, and adherence to prescribed procedures. According to sources, objections raised during the audit relate to expenditure records, treasury payments, statutory remittances, and handling of Finance Commission (FC) funds. A source involved in the audit process said ZP authorities could not produce the required records in several cases, substantiate expenditure, and show compliance with prescribed procedures Records supporting expenditure are missing in some cases, statutory dues have not been properly remitted, and there are questions over treasury payments and FC funds. “Records made available are not enough in several cases to establish how the money has been spent,” the source said on condition of anonymity. For example, ₹5.74 crore have been drawn from the Finance Commission funds. There are no records showing which works have been undertaken and where the money has been spent. The ZP reportedly did not maintain the relevant expenditure records even after withdrawing the amount. FC funds had reportedly been released during the previous two years too without following the prescribed population-based criteria. They have allegedly been spent in violation of norms, according to sources. Further, details of bills involving ₹3.26 crore are not available in the cash book. The absence of entries makes it difficult to reconcile treasury payments with the ZP’s accounts. In addition, the audit points to lapses in remitting amounts collected or deducted under GST, VAT, income tax, and other statutory heads. Sources said several crores of rupees under these heads have not been deposited with the government. The ZP has also not maintained proper records of movable and immovable assets, including those of the zilla parishad and mandal praja parishads. Physical verification of assets and assessment of their market value has not been carried out. Even provident fund records of the ZP are inadequate. Auditors have made observations of expenditure during earlier years too. They said during 2022–23 and subsequently, amounts spent under certain heads had been much higher. Funds meant for other purposes had reportedly been adjusted towards earlier works.
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