Cuttack, Oct. 19: An inquiry has begun into the alleged embezzlement of relief materials by a few councillors.

Revenue divisional commissioner Arvind Padhee and collector Girish S.N. today visited the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to inquire into the allegations.

“We had come to ascertain the facts and a detailed report will shortly be submitted to the state government,” said Padhee.

The officials verified all the relief documents at the civic body today. According to the allegations, a few councillors had embezzled various relief materials, including food stock for the cyclone victims in the city.

Official sources said the district administration had supplied 191.80 quintals of rice, 100 lanterns and over 1,000 candle packets. Besides, the corporation had arranged four quintals of potatoes, 1,800 litres of edible oil, 48,632 biscuit packets and 79 packets of dal (50kg per pack).

The materials were meant to be distributed among nearly 24,830 people, who were earlier evacuated and shifted to 73 identified shelters, before the cyclone hit the state on October 12.

“The revenue divisional commissioner and the collector had come to ascertain the truth. The statements of those officials, who were in charge of the relief materials and a few councillors, were recorded today,” said commissioner Nihar Ranjan Mohapatra.

Sources said allegations had been brought against 16 councillors and they were quizzed today.

The corporation had earlier warned the councillors to return the excess relief materials issued to them or face action, according to the law.

So far, two councillors have deposited nearly Rs 1 lakh, while few others have returned around 16 bags of rice, few quantity of edible oil and other materials.

“The councillors were issued excess relief materials as they had claimed that the number of cyclone victims was more in their wards than mentioned in the beneficiaries’ list. We will take action against the guilty,” he said.