Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance arrested a former Special Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project in Balangir, who had been absconding for 17 years.
The accused, identified as Binay Kumar Garnaik, was wanted in 12 corruption cases, including misappropriation and illegal payments of government money, a Vigilance press release said on Friday.
Garnaik, who served as the LAO from 1998 to 2007, went into hiding in 2008 after the registration of 12 cases against him. During his time on the run, he kept changing locations across the state to evade arrest. However, based on inputs, a team of Vigilance was able to track him down and arrest him from his village Kankadasoda in Dhenkanal district.
The anti-graft agency had registered 12 cases against Garnaik and others, including cases related to misappropriation and illegal payments of government money.
NBWs in 12 cases were also issued against him to face trial, but he continued to evade the process of law since 2008. He was arrested by Odisha Vigilance and produced before a special Vigilance court in Balangir on Friday.
The Vigilance has launched a special drive to nab absconding public/Government servants who are evading the process of law. Multiple teams have been formed and raids are being conducted after collecting inputs of suspected whereabouts of the absconders.