Puducherry: Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has ordered a vigilance probe into the suspected misuse of Chief Minister’s relief fund.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has denied any irregularity and hit back at the Governor that the expenditures of Raj Nivas should be investigated.

Bedi said that the documents she had received suggested that financial assistance of Rs 5,000 from the CM’s fund was being distributed to 62 persons from particular localities without due diligence in the garb of ‘illness’.

Since the matter is about suspected financial impropriety, Bedi has requested the Chief Vigilance Officer to immediately examine and contain further disbursement pending verifications (in case the allegation has substance).

Narayanasamy on Wednesday called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan and urged him to recall Lt Governor Kiran Bedi to “save democracy and federalism” in the Union territory.

In a memorandum submitted to the President, Narayanasamy said, “Kiran Bedi is unilaterally deciding in administrative matters, financial matters and policy matters totally in violation of Rules of Business of Government of Puducherry, 1963 and Constitutional principles.”