Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department has issued a statewide alert warning district administrations, government staff, and the general public against a fraudulent government order circulating on social media.
The forged document, falsely carrying the department’s name and dated July 3, 2026, allegedly announced promotions of several Gram Panchayat Development Officers (GPDOs) and Progress Assistants (PAs) to the post of Block Development Officer (BDO).
The department categorically stated that no such promotion order was ever issued. “The said communication has not been issued by this Department and has been found to be forged,” the letter dispatched to all district Collectors and District Magistrates, emphasised.
It further instructed local authorities to take immediate preemptive action. Subordinate offices and field-level functionaries have been ordered to disregard the fake document entirely and implement measures to halt its viral spread. “Clarification, wherever required, may be issued to public representatives and field officials that no such order has been issued by the government. Strict vigil may be kept to prevent further circulation of the forged document,” the letter read.
To systematically dismantle the misinformation campaign, the Panchayati Raj Department is coordinating with the Information and Public Relations Department to release a formal public clarification. Simultaneously, the matter has been referred to the Home Department for lodging a “FIR and initiation of investigation by the Cyber Crime Cell,” it added.
