Sambalpur: Three constables of the district police have been suspended on charges of overbilling of fuel used in the vehicles during the recent polls in Sambalpur district.
Reportedly, hundreds of light motor vehicles (LMVs) and heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) had been requisitioned by the Odisha Motor Vehicle Department during the recent panchayat elections and had been handed over to the police.
These vehicles, used for election duty, were provided with petrol and diesel to pick up and drop off the polling parties at the designated destination. However, a probe was initiated after reports of discrepancies in the amount of fuel used in the vehicles.
Fuel has been issued for distances longer than allotted distances. The distance covered by almost all vehicles and the distance issued by the district police for that vehicle is not tallying.
Sambalpur SP Battula Gangadhar informed that a DSP-rank official is to probe the discrepancy. In the meantime, three constables have been suspended. The involvement of other senior officials will also be brought under the purview of the investigation.
