5 days ago
Odisha Vigilance Arrests Ex-Principal Over Rs 73 Lakh
Odisha Vigilance arrested Basanta Kumar Naik, a lecturer and former in-charge principal.
Officials say he misused government money meant for Dutika Sahu College.
The alleged amount was about Rs 73 lakh.
The money was intended for building work, equipment, and computer-related services.
Investigators said some bills were false and some equipment never arrived.
Naik was sent before a special court in Sambalpur.
In a separate case, Sangram Pattnaik was sentenced to two years in prison.
He was convicted of not sending health workers’ deducted GPF money to the Accountant General’s office.
Basanta Kumar Naik was arrested for allegedly misappropriating Rs 73,44,950 during his tenure as in-charge principal of Dutika Sahu College.
The alleged irregularities occurred between the 2019-20 and 2024-25 financial years in infrastructure, equipment, and digital-management projects.
Investigators cited false billing, missing equipment, and diversion of grants for automation and digital-management software.
Naik was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sent to a Special Vigilance Court in Sambalpur.
In a separate case, Senior Clerk Sangram Pattnaik received two years’ rigorous imprisonment for misappropriating GPF refunds of health workers.
- Who
- Basanta Kumar Naik, former in-charge principal of Dutika Sahu College, was arrested; Sangram Pattnaik was separately convicted and sentenced.
- What
- Naik allegedly misappropriated Rs 73,44,950 in government funds, while Pattnaik was convicted of misappropriating health workers’ GPF refunds.
- Where
- Dutika Sahu College in Laida, under Rengali block in Sambalpur district; Pattnaik’s earlier offence occurred at Padmapur Community Health Centre in Kendujhar district.
- When
- The alleged misuse by Naik occurred from the 2019-20 to 2024-25 financial years; Pattnaik’s offence occurred during 1999-2003. Naik was arrested on Wednesday.
- Why
- Vigilance alleges that Naik diverted funds intended for infrastructure, equipment, automation, and digital-management software. Pattnaik allegedly failed to remit deducted GPF amounts to the Accountant General.
Key facts
- Arrested official
- Basanta Kumar Naik, currently a Political Science lecturer at Dutika Sahu College
- Alleged amount
- Rs 73,44,950
- Alleged period
- Financial years 2019-20 through 2024-25
- Case number
- Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 13/26
- Charges
- Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 316(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Separate conviction
- Sangram Pattnaik was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment
- Service action
- Authorities may pursue action against Pattnaik under service rules, including dismissal from government service
Sources
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