Bhubaneswar: A Special Vigilance Court in Baripada on Monday sentenced two former officials of the Fisheries Department to three years of rigorous imprisonment each in a corruption case related to misappropriation of government funds.
The convicted officers have been identified as Surendra Mohan Naik, former Assistant Fisheries Officer of Kaptipada Block and Raghunath Kar, former Assistant Fisheries Officer of Mayurbhanj district.
According to an official press release, both officers were charge-sheeted under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 468, 471-A, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. The charges pertain to the alleged misappropriation of government money through forgery of beneficiary signatures and falsified payments under the “Multipurpose Farm Pond Scheme.”
The Special Judge of Vigilance in Baripada, found the two guilty and awarded each of them three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000.
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has initiated the process to recommend the stoppage of pensions for both persons.
Further details awaited.
