Odisha: Three Individuals, Including a Government Official, Arrested in Rs 4 Crore Fraud Case
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Bhubaneswar, Dec 12 (NationPress) The Odisha Vigilance Department has detained three individuals, including a senior government official, on allegations of misappropriating public funds amounting to over Rs 4 crore by utilizing forged documentation.
The authorities arrested two businessmen, Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury, along with a government official, Abinash Pradhan, who currently serves as the Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (ACTO) in Jeypore, located in the Koraput district.
Reports indicate that the Commissionerate of CT & GST in Bhubaneswar uncovered the fraud during an audit and subsequently alerted the Vigilance Department.
The Vigilance Department promptly launched an investigation into the allegations surrounding the misappropriation of government funds by CT & GST officials, who allegedly exploited their authority to facilitate refunds of VAT and disbursements exceeding Rs 4.03 crore to dubious private individuals impersonating as authorized representatives of the dealer M/s G.E Verona T&D Ltd (previously known as GE T&D India Ltd). This was achieved by manipulating financial documents and processing statutory forms that contained forged signatures and seals submitted by these individuals.
“During the investigation, it was discovered that the accused, Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury, in collusion with CT & GST officials in Bhubaneswar, had embezzled Rs 4,03,09,723 by submitting fraudulent appeals on behalf of the original firm, M/s G.E Verona T&D Ltd,” stated a senior official from the Vigilance Department.
The Vigilance subsequently filed a criminal case under various sections of the IPC and the PC Act against Satyaki, Deeptikanta, Abinash, and other public servants and private individuals implicated in the misappropriation of government funds.
The anti-corruption team arrested the suspects from various locations in Bhubaneswar and Dhenkanal districts on Thursday. They were then presented before the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, which ordered them into judicial custody.
According to reports, the state vigilance has initiated a total of 90 cases against public servants over the past five months, spanning from June 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024.
During this period, the Vigilance Department has recorded the highest number of cases against officials from the Revenue Department, with 20 cases, while 18 officials from the Panchayati Raj Department have also been implicated in this crackdown.
