Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday arrested Dr Basanta Kumar Naik, former in-charge principal and present lecturer in Political Science at Dutika Sahu College, Laida, in Sambalpur district, for alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs 73.44 lakh during his tenure from 2019-20 to 2024-25.
According to an official Vigilance statement, Naik allegedly siphoned off funds sanctioned for infrastructure development at the college without carrying out the corresponding works on the ground. He was also accused of raising false bills and showing receipt of institutional equipment against sanctioned funds, which investigators found had not been received.
The investigation further revealed alleged diversion of government grants in the name of implementing automation and digital management software at the college.
The accused was arrested in connection with the alleged financial irregularities and subsequently forwarded to the court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.
Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 13/2026 has been registered against Naik under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 316(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The investigation into the case is underway.
