Rayagada, May 22: In a major crackdown on corruption, the Odisha Vigilance Department on Thursday arrested four officials including Watershed Assistant Project Director of Rayagada district on the charges of embezzlement of government funds.

The accused include Rajendra Nath Naik, Assistant Project Director of the Watershed Department, Jogendra Khosla and Deepak Kumar Sahoo, both Soil Conservation Overseers, and Sri Kumar Nayak, a Soil Conservation Extension Worker.

The officials were arrested for misappropriating funds without carrying out the excavation of 23 farm ponds across various villages in Kashipur block.

Authorities launched an investigation after discrepancies were found in the project records.

The Vigilance department has confirmed that legal proceedings are underway, and further inquiries will be conducted to uncover the full extent of the fraud.

The arrests have raised concerns about transparency in government-funded rural development projects. Officials have assured strict action against those involved in financial irregularities.

read more Odisha News