Bhubaneswar, August 17: In a major crackdown against corruption in paddy procurement, Odisha Vigilance on Monday arrested Sanoj Kumar Mishra, former Secretary of Tusura Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) Ltd., under Gudvela block of Balangir district for misappropriating Rs 42.31 lakh Government funds.

According to the Vigilance, the arrest follows an extensive investigation into financial irregularities and systemic fraud during the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2014–15.

Accused Mishra, the then Secretary of Tusura PACS, was responsible for managing the procurement of paddy from local farmers and ensuring its timely dispatch to designated (tagged) rice millers for custom milling. Investigations revealed that a substantial quantity of paddy procured using Government funds was neither delivered to the millers nor accounted for in the society’s stock records.

The physical non-delivery and fraudulent accounting resulted in an illegal diversion of funds and direct financial loss to the society totaling Rs 42,31,608 by accused Mishra.

A case has been registered at Sambalpur Vigilance police station under section 13(2) r/w 13 (1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act. Further investigation is underway.

The accused has been forwarded to the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Balangir.