Nilambur: Padmini Gopinath, the newly elected Nilambur Municipal Chairperson, has been forced to travel by autorickshaw after the petrol pump owner refused to supply fuel for the official vehicle. The fuel station has cited pending dues of ₹1,89,250 (₹1.89 lakh) left by her predecessor as the reason for withholding fuel.

The arrears relate to a two-month period from October 13 to December 11, 2025, when the official vehicle was used by former chairperson Mattummal Saleem. After the election was notified on December 11, the car was briefly used by the returning officer until December 26. The municipality has submitted a fuel bill of ₹36,000 to the government for that period.

Padmini Gopinath assumed charge as the municipal chairperson on 26 and the vehicle was subsequently used by her.According to the agreement with the petrol pump, dues were to be cleared every 15 days. However, when the authorities declined to provide fuel without clearing the arrears, she stopped using the vehicle.

An inquiry revealed that the municipal secretary had signed indents for fuel, bypassing the municipal engineer, who is the custodian of the vehicle. Documentary evidence reportedly shows instances of full-tank refills twice a day. Similar irregularities were also noted during the period when the car was used by the returning officer, with records of similar back-to-back refills.

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According to Padmini Gopinath, circumstantial evidence suggests the indents signed by the secretary might have been used to fill other  vehicles too. The verifications also nearthed discrepancies in the car’s logbook. She added that CCTV footage from the petrol pump would be examined and legal action be initiated.

 Meanwhile, the municipal secretary has gone on leave since the controversy surfaced. Former chairperson Mattummal Saleem clarified that the dues included fuel filled for other municipal vehicles as well and that the payments were delayed due to the election. He welcomed a probe into the matter.

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Padmini Gopinath has said she will resume using the official vehicle only after the previous committee clears the pending dues.

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