Ramakanta Biswas

The Odisha government has dismissed senior Indian Administrative Officer (IAS) and former managing director of Odisha Rural Housing and Development Corporation (ORHDC) from service following his conviction in corruption case.

“Vinod Kumar has been dismissed from service after the corruption allegations were proved against him. The Centre has given its nod to the state government's proposal to dismiss him,” said a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) today.

“The State government has always taken strict action against corruption. No matter whatever higher positions the corrupt officials held, the State government is committed to exemplary action against them,” the CMO statement added.

A few days ago, a senior forest service officer was also dismissed from his service on corruption charges.

It may be recalled that Kumar had illegally sanctioned Rs 33.34 crore by granting unfair favours to various fake firms and individuals after 1999 Super Cyclone during his stint as Managing Director of ORHDC which led to huge financial loss to the state government.  

The State government had filed 27 vigilance cases against him of which two cases have resulted in conviction.

In September 2018, a Special Vigilance Court convicted Vinod Kumar and sentenced him to three years in jail. Kumar along with six others were charged of defrauding ORHDC on the pretext of giving flats to as many as 27 people. 

However, the then accounts officer Chitta Mallick has been acquitted by the court.

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