Odisha Vigilance arrests 3 govt officials in separate corruption cases

Odisha Vigilance has taken strict action against three government officials in two separate cases of embezzlement and bribery on Monday.

In the first case, Tuna Pradhan, PEO, and Sagar Kumar Das, GRS, both of Kanas Panchayat Samiti in Puri district, were arrested for allegedly misappropriating Rs 21.98 lakh meant for beneficiaries under the Old Age Pension (OAP) and Madhubabu Pension Yojana (MBPY). 

The funds, allocated for the financial years 2022-23 to 2024-25, were allegedly not distributed to the intended beneficiaries. A case has been registered against the duo under sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, at Bhubaneswar Vigilance PS (Case No. 20/2025). Investigation is ongoing to trace the full extent of the misappropriation.

In a separate case in Balasore, Biswaranjan Pradhan, Data Entry Operator at the Welfare Section of Simulia Block, was nabbed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a complainant seeking government assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh under the Sumangal Scheme for an intercaste marriage. 

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The accused had allegedly demanded a total bribe of Rs 10,000 to process the application. Vigilance authorities conducted a trap operation, recovering the entire bribe amount, and searches are underway at two locations linked to Pradhan.

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A case has been registered against him under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Balasore Vigilance PS Case No. 12/2025).