Bhubaneswar: Former IAS officer and Ex-Managing Director of Orissa Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC) Vinod Kumar has been convicted for the eighth time by the vigilance court in a corruption case.
Vinod Kumar and four other former ORHDC officials have also been convicted in the case and were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years.
Four other convicts are Swasti Ranjan Mohapatra, Ex-Company Secretary, Pradeep Kumar Rout, Ex-Accounts officer, Satyaprakash Behera, Ex-Junior Loan Officer and Jnanendra Swain, Ex-Asst. System Analyst.
The court also ordered them to pay a fine of Rs.50,000. In default of payment of fine, they would undergo further rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months on each count for the offence U/s 13 (2) r/w 13(1)(d) P.C Act, 1988/420/468/471/120-B IPC. Both the sentences are to run concurrently, vigilance said.
The above 5 officers of ORHDC, Bhubaneswar by abusing their official positions in the pretext of sanction and disbursement of individual loans dishonestly, considering income from non-existent house property fraudulently determining loan eligibility with utter disregard to financial power delegated by Board of Directors of ORHDC and without complying the advice of Legal Retainer of ORHDC for proper documentation etc. to secure the amount.
In this manner, lakhs of rupees meant for rural poor placed at the disposal of ORHDC were diverted to Urban Builder M/s Sitara Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. by the aforesaid public servants.
