Bhubaneswar: A suspended Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) was arrested by Odisha Vigilance on Saturday for allegedly embezzling government money to the tune of Rs 3.26 crore for cricket betting.
The accused was identified as Debananda Sagar, former PEO of Podapadar and Talnegi Gram Panchayats under Thuamul-Rampur Block of Kalahandi district.
The arrest came a day after another PEO in Ganjam district was arrested by the anti-graft agency for embezzling Rs 43 lakh for cricket betting.
Vigilance said in a statement that Sagar had allegedly embezzled government money to the tune of Rs 3.26 crore. While Rs 1,71,86,342/- was misappropriated from Talnegi pancyanat, Rs 1,55,00,758/- was withdrawan from Podapadar under 15 CFC and 5th SFC accounts by abusing his official power and forging signature of Sarpanch through cheque. He used PFMS (Public Finance Management System) to transfer the money to his personal account at SBI, Dharamgarh Bazar Branch in Kalahandi.
Sagar entered had joined government service as PEO on July 4, 2016 and was posted to Talnegi under Th.Rampur Block. He was also I/c PEO of Podapadar G.P. in addition to Talnegi Gram Panchayat. From May to March, he misappropriated the above-mentioned government funds from both the panchayats used the money for cricket betting through online portal FAIRPLAY.
Earlier, in 2023, he was booked by Vigilance for similar misappropriation of govt funds to the tune of Rs 1.04 crore, while he was PEO in 3 GPs namely Badachhatrang, Birikot and Pahadpadar under Lanjigarh Block of Kalahandi. He was placed under suspension for such misappropriation.
During investigation, the Vigilance unearthed the suspended PEO’s role in misappropriation of government funds while he was the PEO of Podapadar and Talnegi GPs. Following preliminary probe, the anti-corruption agency registered two more cases under sections 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (a) P.C. Act, 1988 as amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 against the corrupt PEO. Further investigation is underway.
