Did Odisha Vigilance Arrest an Associate Professor with Rs 2.63 Lakh in Corruption Cash?
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Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 (NationPress) In a noteworthy turn of events, the Odisha Vigilance apprehended an Associate Professor from the Department of Hepatology at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Thursday, after he was caught with illicit cash exceeding Rs 2.50 lakh.
The vigilance agency disclosed in a press release that after receiving credible intelligence concerning the accumulation of illegal funds by Dr. Sanatana Behera, the Associate Professor, from bidding participants for the procurement of medical instruments for the hepatology department, a dedicated team closely monitored Dr. Behera's movements and activities.
“On Thursday, the Odisha Vigilance team intercepted him at Kathagolasahi Medical Road, Cuttack, as he was heading to his government residence on his Hero Honda Activa Scooter. During the interception, Rs 2.63 lakh was discovered in Dr. Behera's possession, which he could not adequately explain,” said an official from the vigilance department.
The entire amount of Rs 2.63 lakh and the Hero Honda Activa Scooter have been confiscated by the vigilance officials. Following the interception, simultaneous searches were conducted at his government accommodation on Cantonment Road, the three-story building in CDA Sector 6, Cuttack, and his clinic named “Eko Imaging Institute and Pro” located at Mangalabag Medical Road, Cuttack.
In a separate incident, the Odisha Vigilance also arrested the former secretary of a cooperative society in Balasore district on Thursday for allegedly misappropriating government funds amounting to around Rs 19.80 lakh, intended to benefit ineligible members under the Crop Insurance Scheme for the financial year 2014-15 by tampering with official records.
The accused, identified as Subal Kumar Sahu, served as the ex-Secretary of the Dahunda Service Cooperative Society in Bhogarai Block, Balasore district. He was previously dismissed from his position after the embezzlement of public funds was uncovered.
On Thursday, he was taken into custody by Odisha Vigilance and subsequently presented to the court for the misappropriation of government funds totaling Rs 19,80,255.