Balangir, August 6: Odisha Vigilance today arrested former secretary of Sunamudi Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) and Tamia PACS under the Patnagarh Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies (ARCS) Circle in Balangir district for allegedly misappropriating society funds amounting to ₹22.19 lakh.

Mausam Behera was arrested for allegedly embezzling ₹22,19,636 from the funds of the two PACS during the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Following his arrest, he was produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Balangir.

The investigation revealed that the accused allegedly manipulated financial records by falsely showing refunds of Amanat (deposit) money and diverted proceeds from fertilizer sales instead of depositing them into the Cash Credit (C.C.) fertilizer loan accounts of Sunamudi PACS and Tamia PACS. The alleged fraudulent transactions resulted in a substantial loss to the cooperative societies.

Based on the findings, Odisha Vigilance registered Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 11 dated August 5, 2026, against Behera under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, along with Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Vigilance Department stated that the investigation is continuing, and further legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe.