ORHDC scam: Ex-IAS officer Vinod Kumar, 4 others get 3-year jail term in 7th conviction

A Special Vigilance Court on Monday convicted former IAS officer and ex-Managing Director of Odisha Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC) Vinod Kumar and four others in the ORHDC scam and awarded punishment. 

The court of Special Vigilance Judge, Bhubaneswar found the five guilty under Sections 13 (2) r/w 13(1)(d)PC Act, 1988 & u/s 468/120(B) IPC and sentenced them to undergo three years of rigorous imprisonment.  

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of the convicts. In default of payment, they will undergo additional rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months. Both sentences will run concurrently. 

This is the seventh consecutive judgement of conviction of cases involving Vinod Kumar and other accused persons.

Special Public Prosecutor, Vigilance Remant Kumar Swain presented the case on behalf of the Vigilance. 

Notably, M/S Home Lives Builder had availed a loan to construct 38 duplexes in 2000. Then it was alleged that the loan amount was disbursed on fake documents. The land, which was shown to avail the loan, was also not owned by the builder company. 

Earlier, ex-company secretary of ORHDC Swasthi Ranjan Mahapatra, ex-loan approval officer Umesh Swain and two managing partners of the builder company were arrested.  

Vindo Kumar, Swasthi Ranjan Mahapatra and Umesh Swain were accused of being involved in a conspiracy and showing undue favour to the construction company.

(Reported by Alok Mohanty, OTV)