ORHDC scam: HC breather for convicted IAS officer Binod Kumar

Bhubaneswar: Orissa High Court on Monday granted bail to senior IAS officer Binod Kumar who was recently awarded a three-year jail term by special Vigilance Court in connection with financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 55 lakh in Odisha Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC).

However, Binod Kumar can only be released from jail if he fulfils the conditions set by the Vigilance Court, read the order of the High Court.

On August 10, Binod Kumar was awarded three years imprisonment after he surrendered before the concerned court following a High Court directive.

Besides Binod Kumar, the then executive director (technical) of ORHDC Purna Chandra Das, assistant manager Sanjay Mohanty, accounts officer Pradip Rout, accountant Chitta Mallick and secretary of Gramya Bikash Manch, Asish Das have also been convicted by the court.

All the accused were held guilty under section 13 (2), 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 420 and 120 of Indian Penal Code.

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The accused were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and granting pecuniary advantage to NGO Gramya Bikash Manch by releasing funds in an arbitrary manner without following the guidelines.