Cuttack, May 14: In a major crackdown on alleged financial irregularities in the office of the District Education Officer (DEO), Cuttack, Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested Subash Chandra Sahoo, a staffer of the DEO office.

Sahoo has been accused of allegedly misappropriating government funds amounting to Rs 51.53 lakh during his tenure at the Office of the District Education Officer, Cuttack.

Fraud Detected In Salary Disbursement Records
The arrest followed a detailed investigation by Odisha Vigilance into discrepancies found in salary disbursement records between December 31, 2018 and October 16, 2021.

According to the probe, Sahoo was attached to the accounts section of the DEO office and was responsible for maintaining the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).

Investigators alleged that he gained unauthorised access to the credentials of the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) and used them to manipulate official records.

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Four Outsiders Allegedly Added As Fake Employees
The Vigilance investigation revealed that Sahoo allegedly inserted the names of four outsiders into the HRMS portal by falsely categorising them as government employees eligible for salary payments.

Subsequently, salaries were generated and credited to the bank accounts of these four individuals.

Officials alleged that on the very same day the salary amounts were credited to the outsiders’ accounts, the funds were systematically transferred into Sahoo’s personal bank account.

Vigilance Registers Corruption Case
In connection with the case, Cuttack Vigilance Police Station registered Vigilance PS Case No. 18/2026 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, against Sahoo.

The accused was produced before the court on Thursday.