Balasore, Nov 29: A Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) in Baliapal block of Balasore district allegedly siphoned off pension money issued in the names of deceased persons for years, while also diverting assistance meant for widows and the elderly. The large-scale irregularity surfaced during a Panchayat Samiti meeting, prompting Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi to call for immediate action.

According to official records accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the PEO of Kunduli Panchayat, Gautam Sethi, allegedly diverted pension money belonging to more than 30 deceased persons and over 15 elderly and widowed beneficiaries. The funds continued to be withdrawn in their names while families remained unaware.

Residents said that whenever questioned, the officer dodged queries, offered excuses or intimidated beneficiaries. Several victims, including widows and relatives of deceased pensioners, have claimed they were denied payments for months despite the money being credited on paper.

Following the revelation, the MP summoned the Block Development Officer Radha Ranjan Das, Supply Officer Ambika Prasad Rath and Block Social Security Officer Partha Sarathi Sahu to review the allegations. During questioning, Sethi reportedly admitted to misappropriating the pension amounts and agreed to return the funds.

A widow named Snehalata Mahapatra alleged that she stopped receiving her pension in 2022 despite regular entries in official records. In other cases, families of deceased beneficiaries -- such as Sulochana Lenka and Basanti Sahu, who died in 2017 -- said they were unaware that pensions were still being withdrawn in their names.

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Local residents and leaders have demanded strict departmental action and criminal proceedings against the PEO, calling the misuse of welfare pensions an exploitation of the poorest.