Baripada, June 30: Two former government officials of the Fisheries Department in Mayurbhanj district have been convicted for embezzlement of government funds under the Multipurpose Farm Pond Scheme.
Surendra Mohan Naik, former Assistant Fisheries Officer of Kaptipada Block (retired), and Raghunath Kar, former Assistant Fisheries Officer at the office of the District Fisheries Officer, Mayurbhanj (retired), were found guilty by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Baripada. The court sentenced both officials to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 each.
The case, investigated by Odisha Vigilance, revealed that the two officials had misappropriated government funds by forging the signatures of beneficiaries and fraudulently showing disbursal of payments under the farm pond scheme. They were charge-sheeted under sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 468, 471-A, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has announced that it will approach the competent authority to initiate proceedings for stopping the pension benefits of both retired officers.
