Bhubaneswar: The former Sarpanch of Damasahi Gram Panchayat in Nayagarh district, Bibhuti Bhusan Harichandan, was convicted by the Special Court of Vigilance in Bhubaneswar and sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for his involvement in a financial misconduct case.
According to an official press release from Odisha Vigilance, Harichandan was charged under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 409, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The charges stem from his misappropriation of government funds amounting to Rs. 4.84 lakh. He committed the crime by forging the signature of the executive officer and using cheques to withdraw money from the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Twelfth Finance Commission (TFC), and Gram Panchayat (GP) fund joint accounts of the Gram Panchayat.
As per the court’s verdict, Harichandan was taken into custody to serve his sentence and has been fined Rs. 25,000.
