Four Odisha Officials Arrested For Swindling Funds From PM Awas Yojna

Two of the cheated beneficiaries in Kalahandi district

Bhawanipatna: Four officials were arrested for allegedly siphoning Rs 7,80,000 from the PM Awas Yojna in Kalahandi district in the past two weeks.

According to sources, the misappropriated money was to be given to six beneficiaries of Badpodaguda panchayat in Koksara block. The beneficiaries are Padma Naik, Jagannath Das, Dhananjay Naik, Sumati Naik, Mandar Bewa and Marua Dhangdamajhi.

The matter first came to light when the beneficiaries complained to Koksara BDO Manisha Das that they had not been given houses under the scheme. Based on the complaint, the BDO initiated an inquiry and later registered an FIR at Ampani police station.

Following an investigation, police arrested geo-tag co-ordinator Sanjib Das on June 29 for allegedly opening bank accounts in the name of his father and others to collect the funds meant for the beneficiaries.

Later, Panchayat Extension Officer (PEO) Rajmohan Sabar, Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS) Hemant Bachha and Block Programme Co-ordinator Chandan Sahoo were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the scam.

The police probe revealed that Sahoo had uploaded fake photographs of under construction houses and then transferred the funds to bank accounts opened by the accused.

Ampani IIC Krushna Chandra Swain informed that a court rejected the bail application of the four accused and remanded them in judicial custody.