Embezzlement / Government Funds Looted Through Family Accounts, Revenue Official Absconding

Kendrapada, Nov 7: A major financial irregularity involving more than Rs 3 crore has come to light in Odisha's Kendrapada district, with a senior revenue official accused of siphoning off government funds using forged documents and multiple bank accounts belonging to family members.

The accused has been identified as Shashikant Rana, a Senior Revenue Assistant posted at Derabish Block and formerly serving as a Junior Revenue Assistant at Rajkanika Block.

According to preliminary findings, Rana allegedly misappropriated Rs 3.03 crore from government funds between 2018 and 2026.

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Investigators allege that the funds were fraudulently withdrawn in the names of retired government employees by creating and using fake documents.

The money was reportedly routed through bank accounts belonging to Rana, his wife, father, brother and sister-in-law, raising suspicions of a wider financial network behind the alleged scam.

The irregularities surfaced during an official review, following which the administration launched an inquiry. As the alleged fraud came to light, Rana reportedly went absconding and remains untraceable.

Cases have been registered against him at both the Kendrapada Sadar and Rajkanika police stations. In the meantime, Kendrapada Collector Raghuram R. Iyer has ordered a detailed investigation and placed Rana under suspension pending further inquiry.

The district administration has also sought assistance from the police and Vigilance authorities to examine the full extent of the alleged embezzlement.

Officials are currently scrutinising the bank accounts of Rana and his family members to trace the money trail and identify any possible accomplices.

According to the administration, the accused has already refunded around Rs 1.52 crore, but questions remain over the recovery of the remaining funds and whether others were involved in the alleged misappropriation.