Cuttack: The vigilance department has registered a case against a senior IPS officer and arrested five persons, including an additional superintendent of police (ASP) and a signal man on charges of siphoning off Rs 88 lakh meant for the computer education of SC/ST students and self help groups (SHGs), vigilance director RP Sharma said today.
The high profile fraud case took place in the state police headquarters in 2015.
"Among the arrested persons, Basant Kumar Pradhan, ex-DSP (HRPC), is currently working as additional SP in south western range (DIG), Koraput and Prachet Kumar Mishra, ex-stenographer of SC/ST protection cell (HRPC), is currently posted as signal officer in Cuttack. Proprietor of Messrs Access Computer Ashutosh Mishra and his manager have also been arrested. The fifth one is Mamata Rout, who owns a printing unit at Madhupatna in Cuttack where training related materials were printed," Vigilance director RP Sharma said.
Access Computer was entrusted with the task of imparting training, Sharma added.
Four of the five arrested were produced in the court today while the ASP, who was arrested from Koraput, is being taken to Cuttack. He will be forwarded to court on Thursday.
Apart from the arrests, a case has also been registered against senior Tripura cadre IPS officer Joydeep Nayak, who has been named as the prime accused in the case, Sharma said, adding that Tripura police has been contacted for more information regarding the key accused.
The fraud took place during the tenure of Nayak as IG of SC/ST Protection cell of HRPC on deputation. He had allegedly siphoned off the fund meant for SC/ST students' computer education with help of some sub-ordinate officers.
Sources said Nayak is undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.