Bhubaneswar: The Vigilance Department has arrested five forest department officials for alleged embezzlement of government funds amounting to approximately Rs 80 lakhs under the “Compensatory Afforestation Scheme” in Kalahandi South Forest Division during 2023-24.
Based on credible inputs regarding large-scale misappropriation of government funds, the Vigilance department conducted an enquiry, which revealed huge shortfalls in the plantation and misappropriation of funds. The enquiry found that the plantation funds were diverted to fictitious labour accounts and withdrawn shortly thereafter.
The arrested officials include Sairendri Bag, Deputy Ranger, In-charge Jaypatana Range, Umesh Rout, Forester, Debraj Sunani, Forester, Ashok Kumar Sahu, Forest Guard, Lalit Naik, Forest Guard.
The Vigilance department has registered a case under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The arrested officials will be forwarded to the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna. The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend the remaining accused person and verify the involvement of others.
