Bhubaneswar, August 1: The Odisha Vigilance on Saturday arrested a Junior Assistant for allegedly misappropriating Government money to the tune of over Rs 37.32 lakh.

The accused has been identified as Debadyuti Nanda, currently posted at Padmalochana Government High School at Jagai under Baliapal block of Baleshwar district. He allegedly committed the misappropriation while serving as the Bill Clerk-cum-Accountant at the Baliapal Block Education Office.

According to a Vigilance release, the accused allegedly misappropriated Government fund to the tune of Rs 37,32,708 by way of preparing forged arrear pay bills of self between 2022 to 2026 by fraudulently inserting his forged arrear pay bills in the arrear DA bills of other employees under Baliapal BEO by taking advantage of his official position as the bill clerk-cum-accountant of BEO office, Baliapal.

He is being forwarded to the court today, it said.

A case under U/s 13(2)r/w13(1)(a) PC (Amendment) Act, 2018/467/468/471/477-A IPC has been registered against accused Nanda.

Further investigation underway.