The Head Clerk of Kantabanji Notified Area Council (NAC), Gouranga Vibhar was arrested by Kantabanji Police on Wednesday. Vibhar was arrested from his home at Chheliapada village under Nuapara’s Khariar police limits.
As per reports, Vibhar is accused of swindling holding tax, water tax, and other taxes worth Rs 43 lakh collected by the NAC.
The corruption came to the fore after an audit was conducted in the NAC. Following the discovery, the Executive Officer of the NAC informed the Bolangir district Collector and filed a written complaint at the Kantabanji Police Station.
After the complaint, Vibhar promised to return all the money he took from the NAC. However, Vibhar returned only Rs 6 lakh out of the Rs 43 lakh. The police took the matter seriously and arrested Vibhar from his village.
He was sent to the jail after his bail was rejected.
Speaking on the arrest, Kantabanji SDPO Gouranga Charan Sahu said, “A case was registered on August 22 on charges of corruption. Gouranga Vibhar was working as a cashier at Kantabanji NAC. He was arrested yesterday and will be forwarded to the court shortly.”