Local Government in Ancient India c13.146

c13.146

Embezzlement of public funds is more severely punished in the Smṛtis. Viṣṇu says: 'He who embezzles goods belonging to a corporation shall be banished' (V. 167).¹ Yājñavalkya is yet more severe in his punishment of embezzlement, for he adds confiscation of property to banishment (II. 187).² Bṛhaspati, however, like Viṣṇu, confines the punishment to deportation of those who injure the joint-stock or general interests of the corporation or violate its constitution in other ways.³ Lastly, a man, borrowing money for the purposes of his corporation but misappropriating it for his personal purposes, was compelled to refund to the corporation the amount thus borrowed (Kātyāyana).⁴