A formal complaint has been submitted to the Department of Personnel and Training and the Government of Andhra Pradesh seeking an immediate investigation into alleged misuse of public and temple funds by Visakhapatnam District Collector Muttimbaku Abhishikth Kishore, an IAS officer of the 2015 batch.
The complaint made by NGO watchdog Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) calls for inquiry and prosecution over the disbursal of financial assistance to two Iranian nationals studying in India.
According to the complaint, multiple media reports dated 9 April 2026, stated that the District Collector sanctioned ₹50,000 each from the District Sanjeevani Fund to the two individuals. Additionally, an equal amount of ₹50,000 each was reportedly granted from the funds of the Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Temple in Visakhapatnam, bringing the total assistance to over ₹1 lakh per person.
The complainant has alleged that the District Sanjeevani Fund is strictly meant for providing emergency medical assistance to economically weaker Indian citizens and is governed by guidelines limiting its use to healthcare-related needs. It was argued that extending such funds to foreign nationals falls outside the scope of the scheme and constitutes a violation of financial norms and fiduciary responsibilities.
Further, the complaint raises objections to the use of temple funds, stating that resources of the Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Temple are governed under the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act and are intended solely for religious and temple-related purposes. The diversion of such funds for non-religious activities, particularly for the benefit of foreign nationals, has been described as a breach of statutory provisions and trust obligations.
The representation also contends that in cases involving foreign nationals, the appropriate course of action would have been to route assistance through the Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs, or coordinate with the Iranian Embassy, rather than directly disbursing public or religious funds at the district level.
Alleging criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and abuse of official position, the complainant has sought an independent inquiry, recovery of the funds, and initiation of disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings against the officer concerned.
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