Fraud Case / Odisha Vigilance Arrests Ex‑Juba PACS Secretary for Cooperative Society Scam

Balangir, Sep 10: Odisha Vigilance has arrested Chintamani Mallik, former secretary of Juba Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) Limited under Belpada block in Balangir district, on charges of financial irregularities exceeding ₹14.22 lakh.

Officials said a detailed probe revealed Mallik had misappropriated government grants and cooperative funds between 2016-17, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.

The investigation found that he diverted money from seed sales without depositing it into official accounts, manipulated records, forged bank deposits, and withdrew excess amounts.

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Following confirmation of the irregularities, Vigilance registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 16/2026).

Authorities stated that further inquiry will determine the full extent of the fraud and identify additional assets.

Officials Arrested for Bribery

Earlier on Monday, the vigilance sleuths had arrested two revenue officials in Puri district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹35,000 in a land mutation case.

The accused, identified as Kalyani Jena, Revenue Inspector, and Purna Chandra Behera, Assistant Revenue Inspector, were posted at Siula RI Circle under Pipili Tahasil. Officials said the duo was caught red‑handed while receiving the money from an applicant.

According to Vigilance, the complainant had applied for conversion of agricultural land to homestead land under government rules. When he enquired about the status, Jena and Behera allegedly demanded ₹35,000 to process and forward the enquiry report. Despite repeated requests, they insisted on the bribe. The applicant then approached Vigilance, which laid a trap and recovered the entire amount in the presence of witnesses.

Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were conducted at the officials’ office and residences in Brahmakumdi (Charichhak), Achyutapur (Chandanpur), and Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar to probe disproportionate assets.