Rayagada: The Rayagada administration has filed a police complaint against the tehsildar of Gunupur and a dealing assistant for illegally collecting money from the people in the name of the district Red Cross Society.

Sub-collector, Gunupur, Amrit Ruturaj filed the complaint against tehsildar Akshyamita Kartik and dealing assistant Santosh Kumar Nimal at Gunupur police station on Thursday.

According to sources, Kartik was allegedly collecting money from those visiting the tehsil office by printing a fake receipt book in the name of the district Red Cross.

The matter came to light when last week a few women complained to the sub-collector against the tehsildar. They had also demanded action against him. The complainants had produced the fake receipts that they had been given by the tehsil office.

"During inquiry it was found that the tehsildar has collected money with fake receipt books of the district Red Cross Society. The money collected had never been deposited with the government," said Ruturaj.

According to the sub-collector, the tehsildar in connivance with some other employees had been involved in illegal collection of money for the past one year.

"The tehsildar has collected money between Rs 100 to Rs 500 from various people in the name of the district Red Cross Soceity. A detail inquiry has been conducted and the report is with the district collector. On the district collector's instruction, the police had filed the complaint," the sub-collector said.

"A case has been registered and investigation will be conducted. Necessary action will be taken against the wrong-doers," said inspector-in-charge of Gunupur police station Nirmal Chandra Panigrahi.

However, Nimal has refuted the allegations. "I have done no wrong. It's a conspiracy by a section of the land mafia to defame me," he said.