Two Odisha government employees, responsible for implementing all major Central and State government welfare schemes in the rural belt, have been found embezzling over ₹3.5 crore for playing online cricket betting.
Odisha’s Vigilance directorate, an anti-corruption wing, has arrested Debananda Sagar, a suspended Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) in Kalahandi district and Khetramohan Nayak, PEO in Ganjam district.
Sagar, former PEO of Podapadar and Talnegi under Thuamul-Rampur Block of Kalahandi was accused of swindling government fund to the tune of ₹3.26 crores (₹1,71,86,342 from Talnegi gram panchayat. And ₹1,55,00,758 from Podapadar panchayat under 15 Central Finance Commission and 5th State Finance Commission accounts by abusing his official power, says Vigilance Directorate.
He had forged signature of Sarpanch of two panchayats through cheque drawal and on-line transfer using Public Finance Management System, to his personal account.
The accused employee had entered into government service in 2016 and was posted to Talnegi Thuamul Rampur Block while he was in charge of the PEO of Podapadar. “From early in his career, he began misappropriating the Government funds from both panchayats and used them in cricket betting through online portal FAIRPLAY,” said Odisha vigilance.
“In 2023, he was booked by vigilance for similar misappropriation of government funds to the tune of ₹1.04 crore, while he was PEO in three panchayats such as Badachhatrang, Birikot, and Pahadpadar under Lanjigarh block and was placed under suspension for such misappropriation,” the anti-corruption bureau said.
On the other hand, Nayak, the PEO in Ganjam district, was found misappropriating government fund to the tune of ₹43,01,640 in a similar manner adopted by Sagar. Ironically, he had joined the service in 2024 and from the beginning of his career, he was neck-deep in corruption.
Published – March 22, 2025 11:05 pm IST
