Odisha Vigilance arrests absconding SRA for ₹3.03 crore govt fund fraud
Synopsis
An absconding Odisha government employee who allegedly looted over ₹3 crore by filing ghost salary and pension claims for dead and retired workers — and rerouting the money to his own family's bank accounts — has been tracked down and arrested by the Odisha Vigilance after a digital manhunt. The case reveals a brazen exploitation of the state's HRMS payroll portal from within the system.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Vigilance arrested Sasikanta Rana , an absconding SRA, from Anugola district on the night of 12 November 2026 .
Rana allegedly misappropriated ₹3,03,65,843 across postings at Rajkanika Block (₹1,46,68,118) and Derabish Block (₹1,56,97,725) in Kendrapada.
He manipulated the HRMS Portal to file fraudulent claims in the names of retired and deceased employees , diverting funds to family bank accounts via NEFT .
Two cases ( 42/26 and 43/26 ) registered at Kataka Vigilance Police Station under the PC Amendment Act, 2018 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Rana has been forwarded to the Court of Special Judge Vigilance, Cuttack for further proceedings.
The Odisha Vigilance directorate on Wednesday night, 12 November 2026, arrested an absconding Senior Revenue Assistant (SRA) from Anugola district after a digital tracking operation, on charges of systematically misappropriating over ₹3.03 crore in government funds across two block postings. The accused, Sasikanta Rana, had been evading authorities for an extended period following the exposure of large-scale financial fraud.
Who Is the Accused
Sasikanta Rana served as the SRA attached to the Derabish Block in Kendrapada District, Odisha. His role in the establishment section gave him direct control over the processing of salaries, arrears, and pensions — a position of financial trust that investigators say he systematically abused over two consecutive postings.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
According to the Odisha Vigilance directorate, Rana manipulated disbursement records on the HRMS Portal by filing fraudulent claims for salaries, arrears, gratuity, unutilised leave, and pensions in the names of retired and deceased employees. Instead of routing these amounts to the rightful beneficiaries, he replaced their bank account details with private account numbers belonging to himself, his spouse, father, brother, and a relative — accounts held at SBI, Bank of India, and Indian Bank, Kendrapada. All transfers were executed via NEFT.
The misappropriation occurred across two postings: Rana siphoned ₹1,46,68,118 during his tenure at Rajkanika Block and a further ₹1,56,97,725 at Derabish Block, bringing the total embezzled amount to ₹3,03,65,843.
The Investigation and Arrest
'The extensive investigations by Odisha Vigilance revealed that Sri Rana systematically siphoned off government funds across two consecutive postings while serving in charge of the establishment section, a role responsible for processing salaries, arrears, and pensions,' the directorate stated. After Rana went absconding upon detection of the fraud, vigilance sleuths deployed digital tracking to trace his location, eventually apprehending him in Anugola late Wednesday night.
Cases Registered, Court Proceedings Underway
Two separate cases — Case No. 42/26 and Case No. 43/26 — have been registered at the Kataka Vigilance Police Station against Rana. He faces charges under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, as well as Sections 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 344, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Rana was forwarded on Thursday to the Court of Special Judge Vigilance, Cuttack for further legal proceedings. This case underscores the continuing vulnerability of government payroll portals to insider manipulation, and is likely to prompt a review of HRMS-level financial controls across Odisha's block administration.
Point of View
It became the instrument of fraud, with a trusted insider exploiting weak account-change controls for years across two postings. The fact that Rana remained undetected long enough to siphon over ₹3 crore — and then went absconding before arrest — raises serious questions about Odisha's internal audit and reconciliation mechanisms at the block level. Recovery of the diverted funds, particularly from family members, will be the real test of whether this case ends with accountability or just a conviction headline.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sasikanta Rana and what did he do?
Sasikanta Rana is a Senior Revenue Assistant (SRA) who served in the establishment section of Rajkanika and Derabish blocks in Kendrapada District, Odisha. He allegedly misappropriated over ₹3.03 crore in government funds by filing fraudulent salary, pension, and gratuity claims for retired and deceased employees and routing the money to his own and his family members' bank accounts.
How did Odisha Vigilance catch the absconding SRA?
After Rana went into hiding following the detection of the fraud, Odisha Vigilance used digital tracking to trace his location to Anugola district, where he was arrested late on the night of 12 November 2026.
How exactly was the HRMS Portal misused in this case?
Rana allegedly manipulated disbursement records on the government's HRMS Portal by processing fraudulent claims in the names of retired and deceased employees. He replaced the legitimate bank account details of beneficiaries with private accounts belonging to himself and his family members at SBI, Bank of India, and Indian Bank, Kendrapada, with all transfers executed via NEFT.
What charges has Sasikanta Rana been booked under?
Two cases (42/26 and 43/26) have been registered against Rana at the Kataka Vigilance Police Station. He is charged under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and Sections 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 344, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Where is Sasikanta Rana being tried?
Rana was forwarded on Thursday, 12 November 2026, to the Court of Special Judge Vigilance in Cuttack for further legal proceedings after his arrest by Odisha Vigilance.
