Suspended Odisha PEO arrested by Vigilance for embezzling Rs 3.26 crore govt fund in online cricket betting

In a major crackdown on financial irregularities, Odisha Vigilance has arrested Debananda Sagar, a former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Podapadar and Talnegi Gram Panchayats (GPs) under the Thuamul-Rampur Block in Kalahandi district, for allegedly embezzling government funds amounting to Rs 3.26 crore.

According to sources, Sagar, who was under suspension, misappropriated Rs 1,71,86,342 from the Talnegi GP and Rs 1,55,00,758 from the Podapadar GP by forging the signatures of the respective Sarpanchs. He exploited the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) to transfer funds from the 15th Central Finance Commission (CFC) and the 5th State Finance Commission (SFC) accounts of the GPs to his personal account at the State Bank of India (SBI), Dharamgarh Bazar branch.

Sagar joined government service as a PEO on July 4, 2016, and was posted in the Talnegi GP. He was also in charge of the Podapadar GP from May 5, 2018, to March 17, 2022. During this tenure, he allegedly siphoned off government funds for online cricket betting through the portal FairPlay.

Notably, this is not the first time Sagar has been accused of financial misconduct. In 2023, he was booked by Vigilance for misappropriating Rs 1.04 crore while serving as PEO in three other GPs—Badachhatrang, Birikot, and Pahadpadar under the Lanjigarh Block, Kalahandi. Following the previous case, he was placed under suspension.

Also Read: PEO arrested in Odisha for embezzling over Rs 43 lakh government funds for cricket betting 

After fresh allegations surfaced, Vigilance initiated an inquiry and registered two additional cases against him under the Koraput Vigilance Police Station. Sagar is set to be produced before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna, later today.