Rs 68.85 lakh pension fund ‘fraud’ in Odisha: Vigilance dept nabs former senior clerk in Dhenkanal

The Odisha Vigilance department arrested Manoranjan Sahoo, a former senior clerk at the Hindol Sub-Treasury in Dhenkanal district, on allegations of misappropriating over Rs 68 lakh pension funds meant for family pensioners.

Sahoo, who was reportedly evading arrest for nearly two years, was detained late Friday after coordinated operations at multiple locations.

According to sources, Sahoo abused his role in the Sub-Treasury by diverting government pension disbursements. Rather than credit the funds to the rightful pension accounts, he allegedly transferred them into his own bank account and into accounts held by his relatives.

Evasion Of Arrest, Vigilance Raids Lead To Capture

Sources said Sahoo had been on the run for about two years following initial suspicions of financial irregularities at the Hindol Sub-Treasury. On Friday night, Vigilance teams conducted a series of raids and managed to locate and apprehend him.

The arrest followed detailed investigations into his transactions, which revealed a recurring pattern of fraudulent draws involving pension disbursements.

After his arrest, a case was registered under the Cuttack Vigilance Police Station. Sahoo was then brought before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Dhenkanal, where he was formally presented in court.

Modus Operandi Of The Scheme

Vigilance officials explained that Sahoo, during his tenure as a senior clerk, had access to pension disbursement processes. He allegedly manipulated these disbursements to draw out the money intended for pensioners and reroute them to his own account and those of family members.

The total diverted sum is confirmed to be Rs 68,85,497, based on preliminary financial forensics and bank record analysis. This money, according to investigators, was earmarked for family pensioners.

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Possible Broader Network Under Review

The Vigilance Department has stated that the probe is still underway. The team is auditing bank statements, transaction histories and treasury records to determine whether others may have been complicit in the misappropriation. There is also a search for any assets or properties acquired by Sahoo or his relatives using the diverted funds.

Officials said the case could expand if further beneficiaries or intermediaries are found to have participated in or facilitated the fraudulent transfers.