Bhubaneswar: Vigilance today arrested Nilagiri Deputy Collector Parikhita Jena and three of his associates for misappropriating government funds to the tune of over Rs 1 crore.
The Government money to the tune of over Rs 1 core of Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC) was misappropriated by Jena who was the then BDO of Suliapada block in Mayurbhanj district without executing developmental works in the locality during 2021-22 and 2022-23, vigilance said.
The alleged misappropriation occurred during Jena’s tenure as BDO from 2019 to January 2023 in Suliapada of Mayurbhanj district, when he was responsible for managing funds from the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC) for various developmental projects. However, investigations revealed that Jena issued RTGS letters to banks without executing any development works, releasing funds to his associates, who failed to provide proof of project execution or government work.
His associates who were arrested are Debadutta Das, Ex-Cashier, Suliapada Block, Sujit Kumar Mohanty, and Akhila Kumar Das.
They have been booked under Section 13 (2) read with 13(1) (a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for misappropriating government funds.
Searches conducted by the Vigilance sleuths failed to yield any documents or proof of project execution or fund utilization. Efforts are on to apprehend other accused individuals, including Nigam Prasad Parida, Proprietor Bindhani Computer, Baripada, Proprietor Trilochan Traders, Berhampur, Dibyalochan Das, and Manoj Kumar Deo, who received government funds.
