Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Sunday arrested former panchayat executive officer (PEO) of Turudihi panchayat in Raighar block of Nabarangpur district, Surendra Bhatra, for alleged misappropriation of over Rs 65 lakh government funds.
He is accused of misappropriating Rs 15 lakh and Rs 50 lakh allotted to Parchipara and Kacharapara-3 gram panchayats under Raighar block, respectively, for development works.
In September, Bhatra was suspended on allegation of embezzling over Rs 1 crore government funds on the basis of a complaint lodged by Raighar block development officer Lakshmi Sagar Majhi at Kundei police station after Turudihi sarpanch and local villagers alerted about suspicious financial activities.
While investigation had revealed that approximately Rs 65.7 lakh allocated for development work was misappropriated, Kacharapara-3 sarpanch Suknath Gand alleged that Bhatra embezzled another Rs 38.47 lakh while holding additional charge of Kacharapara-3 panchayat.
The PEO was then absconding.
