Sundargarh, June 29: In a significant development in a disproportionate assets (DA) case, Special Judge, Sundargarh Vigilance court, on Monday convicted former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police Pravakar Panda and his spouse, former assistant teacher Geetanjali Patra, for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Pravakar Panda, a retired ASI who served at Banai Police Station in Sundargarh district, and his wife, Geetanjali Patra, a retired Assistant Teacher of Government High School, Jhirpani, Rourkela, had been charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Following the trial, the Court found both accused guilty and sentenced each of them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. The Court also imposed a fine of ₹1,00,000 on each convict.
In addition to the sentence, the court directed the State Government to initiate steps for the realisation of the disproportionate assets from the movable and immovable properties of both convicts.
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance said it will move the competent authority to seek the stoppage of pension benefits of retired ASI Pravakar Panda and his spouse Geetanjali Patra in accordance with the applicable rules.
