Bhubaneswar: A Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna on Friday convicted Meena Patra, former Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of the ICDS Project, Lanjigarh at Biswanathpur in Kalahandi district, in a corruption case and sentenced her to four years of simple imprisonment along with a fine of ₹1 lakh.
The conviction relates to Koraput Vigilance Police Station Case No. 21 dated October 3, 2021, registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. According to the prosecution, Meena Patra, who has since retired from service, had demanded and accepted a bribe of ₹80,000 from a functionary of a self-help group for clearing bills related to the supply of Chhatua under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
After the pronouncement of the verdict, the court ordered that the convicted former CDPO be taken into custody. Accordingly, Meena Patra was sent to jail to serve her sentence.
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has stated that it will move the competent authority for the stoppage of pensionary benefits of the convicted official, as per applicable rules.
