3 weeks ago
Odisha Vigilance arrests three in Rs 55 lakh tank scam
Some public workers in Odisha, India, are in trouble with the police.
They were in charge of fixing up a big water tank called the Patnaik Tank.
The police say the workers wrote down fake numbers in official record books.
The fake numbers made it look like more work was done than actually happened.
Some of the work was never done, and some was done badly.
Because the records looked correct, the government paid out a lot of money, about Rs 1.22 crore.
A check later showed that about Rs 55.69 lakh worth of work was missing or done badly.
Three people, two engineers and one contractor, were arrested.
They were taken to court and may face punishment for cheating and corruption.
The police are still checking whether anyone else was involved.
Odisha Vigilance arrested two engineers and a contractor over alleged Rs 55.69-lakh financial irregularities in the Patnaik Tank reclamation and renovation project.
Those arrested are D Yudhistir, Sanjeev Champati, and contractor Surendra Panigrahi.
The alleged fraud took place between 2019 and 2022 at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district.
False and inflated measurements were allegedly entered in official Measurement Books for works not executed or carried out below specifications, leading to release of Rs 1.22 crore to the contractor.
An independent technical assessment found works worth Rs 55.69 lakh were not executed or were below required standards, and further investigation is underway.
- Who
- D Yudhistir, Sanjeev Champati, and contractor Surendra Panigrahi, arrested by Odisha Vigilance
- What
- Alleged financial irregularities in the Patnaik Tank reclamation and renovation project involving forged measurement records
- Where
- Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district, Odisha; the accused were produced before the Special Vigilance Court, Brahmapur
- When
- Arrests on Thursday; the alleged fraud occurred between 2019 and 2022
- Why
- False and inflated measurements allegedly facilitated excess payment of public funds to the contractor
Key facts
- Arrested
- 3 (D Yudhistir, Sanjeev Champati, Surendra Panigrahi)
- Alleged loss
- Rs 55.69 lakh
- Amount released to contractor
- Rs 1.22 crore
- Project
- Patnaik Tank reclamation and renovation
- Location
- Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district, Odisha
- Fraud period
- 2019-2022
- Investigating agency
- Odisha Vigilance
- Charges
- Corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery, cheating
Quotes
Vigilance SP Pradeep Pradhan
Spokesperson for Odisha Vigilance
“"The alleged fraud took place during the execution of the Patnaik Tank reclamation and renovation project between 2019 and 2022."”
thehansindia.com
“"The three accused have been booked under relevant provisions relating to corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery and cheating."”
thehansindia.com








