Clerical error turns ₹20,000 into $20,000, costs Kerala University nearly ₹16.5 lakh
Thiruvananthapuram: A clerical mistake during an international fund transfer has left Kerala University’s Centre for Latin American Studies facing a financial loss of nearly ₹16.5 lakh, making it one of the institution’s costliest administrative errors in recent years.
The error occurred in June 2023, when the institution paid money for four online lectures given by a Brazilian journalist. The Times of India reported that a bank employee misinterpreted the rupee symbol as a dollar sign and transferred the approved honorarium of ₹20,000 as $20,000, resulting in a significant debit from the university's account.
University officials said the transaction was carried out through the State Bank of India’s Tejaswini branch at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. The amount was credited to the bank account of Kathleen Martinic, wife of the invited speaker Milan Sime Martinic.
The discrepancy was discovered in 2024 and the Centre informed the university authorities and contacted the lecturer. Gireesh Kumar, head of the Centre, said Martinic had initially assured officials that the excess amount would be returned. However, the refund was never received, despite later claims that the money had been sent back.
Efforts to recover the funds have since been complicated by Martinic’s death a few months after the transfer, which was made on June 15, 2023. Officials said this has significantly reduced the chances of recovering the money.
The funds were part of a ₹20 lakh grant sanctioned by the state government for a student exchange programme. After the money was received, Kathleen Martinic reportedly transferred it to the account of a consulting firm.
The Centre has approached the banking ombudsman, but the issue remains unresolved. While SBI has acknowledged the error, it has asked the university to help persuade the recipient to return the excess amount.
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
