Police Detain Ex-Panchayat Executive Officer For Pilferage Of PDS Rice In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: Police have detained a former panchayat executive officer (PEO) for alleged pilferage of PDS rice in Odisha’s Balangir district.

According to sources, the media had highlighted the allegation by the PDS beneficiaries about the pilferage of the rice meant for distribution among them in Bhadra panchayat under Saintala block of the district in October and November.

Following this, the block administration and Supply department officials conducted an investigation and found that 97 quintal of the PDS rice had not been given to the beneficiaries. On the basis of the report, Saintala supply officer Padmalochan Majhi filed a complaint at the local police station on the direction of BDO Binay Kumar Bhoi.

Acting on the complaint, Saintala police apprehended Sahu from his Tusra village and detained him in the police station. While the police were questioning him about the corruption, supply assistant of the same panchayat Satya Chhatria, who is also allegedly involved in the corruption, has been absconding.