Berhampur, April 8: Odisha Vigilance authorities have uncovered a major financial irregularity at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kodala, located in Ganjam district. The scam involves the alleged embezzlement of government funds exceeding ₹2 crore.

Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: Jatin Kumar Bhuyan (Senior Assistant), Bharati Pradhan (MPHW), Gopal Nahak (Attendant), Manu Nayak (Sweeper), and Rama Chandra Mallika (Attendant, PHC Beguniapada).

Sources indicate that the Berhampur Vigilance Police Station registered a case on April 8, 2026, after receiving complaints that certain hospital staff had fabricated arrear salary bills and misappropriated public funds over a period spanning 2023 to 2025.

Investigations revealed that the accused allegedly generated fake salary arrear bills in the names of multiple hospital employees by manipulating official records. The total amount siphoned off is provisionally estimated to be over ₹2 crore.

The case has been filed under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018), along with several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 409, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B. Additional charges have been invoked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically Sections 316(5), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2).

All the accused were produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur, and have been remanded to judicial custody.