Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance said on Wednesday that it has unearthed a major financial fraud at the Community Health Centre (CHC) of Kodala in Ganjam district involving alleged misappropriation of government funds exceeding Rs two crore.
Vigilance said in a statement that its Berhampur wing registered a case and arrested five persons following allegations that staff members falsified records to draw unauthorised arrear salary bills between 2023 and 2025. Over Rs two crore was stated to have been misappropriated by the accused persons.
Funds were misappropriated by preparing fraudulent arrear salary bills in the names of hospital employees.
The five have been booked under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018). Relevant sections of the IPC (409/467/468/471/120-B) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (316(5)/336(3)/338/340(2)/61(2)) have also been slapped.
The five individuals arrested were identified as Jatin Kumar Bhuyan – Senior Assistant, Bharati Pradhan – MPHW, Gopal Nahak – Attendant, Manu Nayak – Sweeper, and Rama Chandra Mallika – Attendant, PHC Beguniapada.
Vigilance officials are currently investigating the matter to determine the full extent of the syndicate and identify any further official involvement.
