Bhubaneswar: Vigilance arrested four individuals, including three municipality officials, for misappropriating government funds to the tune of Rs 61 lakh for the purchase of public health sanitation materials, specifically Mosquito Larvicidal Oil, during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 periods in Jharsuguda Municipality.
The arrested persons are Manoj Kumar Tandi, former Executive Officer of Jharsuguda Municipality; Bikash Pasayat, Sanitary Inspector; Biswa Ranjan Sahoo, Sanitation Expert; and Ashutosh Sharma, supplier and proprietor of M/s. Fusion Group, Jharsuguda.
A vigilance inquiry revealed that in 2023, Manoj Kumar Tandi placed a supply order for 10,200 litres of Mosquito Larvicidal Oil to M/s. Fusion Group at an exorbitant rate. The supplier delivered 9,500 litres of oil and submitted seven invoices totalling Rs 70,30,000.
In the 2022-23 financial year, the same oil was purchased at Rs 77 per litre from M/s. Orissa Rubber Udyog Limited. However, in 2023-24, the accused individuals conspired with the supplier to purchase 9,500 litres of oil at Rs 740 per litre, nearly 10 times the previous year’s rate, resulting in an excess payment of Rs 660 per litre.
The government deducted 2% GST/TDS from the bill amount, totalling Rs 1,25,400. The actual misappropriation amount is Rs 61,44,600.
A criminal case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the IPC. They have been forwarded to a special vigilance court in Sambalpur.
