Bhubaneswar: The Special Vigilance Court in Berhampur on Friday sentenced Bijaya Pradhan, a retired Secretary of Chandanpur Gram Panchayat under Begunia block in Ganjam district, to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for misappropriating resources from government schemes.
Pradhan was found guilty of misappropriating rice allocated under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY-I & II) and the National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP), as well as cement received under the 11th Finance Commission. The court also imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on Pradhan.
An official press release stated that Odisha Vigilance had charge-sheeted Pradhan under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.
Following Pradhan’s conviction, the anti-corruption agency will move the competent authority to stop his pension.
