Bhubaneswar, April 18: A vigilance court in Baripada has convicted and awarded three-year rigorous imprisonment to a former irrigation staffer in corruption case.

Odisha Vigilance has secured the conviction of Gourahari Patra, a former Dealing Assistant–cum-Despatch Clerk in the office of the Superintending Engineer (SE), Irrigation Circle, Baripada.

Following the conviction, Special Judge, Vigilance in Baripada sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years and also imposed a fine.

The court found Patra guilty in a corruption case involving misappropriation of government funds. He had earlier been charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 468, 420, 471, and 409 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the investigation, Patra misappropriated government money that was meant to be deposited in bank accounts as fresh and renewal license fees for contractors. He allegedly executed the fraud by preparing and using forged official records, thereby diverting public funds for unauthorized purposes.

In line with standard procedure after such convictions, Odisha Vigilance has announced that it will approach the competent authority to initiate proceedings for the stoppage of Patra’s pension benefits.