Embezzlement / Odisha Vigilance Arrests Senior Assistant for Embezzling Govt Funds

Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: Odisha Vigilance has arrested a senior assistant of the Sunabeda Wildlife Division in Nuapada district for allegedly embezzling over ₹2.60 crore of government funds through fraudulent bills.

The accused, identified as Bablu Suna, was nabbed from Balangir after evading arrest for six months.

Investigations revealed that Suna, who was in charge of the establishment section at the Divisional Forest Office, prepared fake bills in the names of retired and deceased employees.

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He allegedly misused the provisions of the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) and the Revised Assured Career Progression (RACP) schemes to show arrears and generate forged claims.

The Vigilance probe found that the fraudulent bills were used to siphon off funds from the state exchequer. The money was reportedly transferred to bank accounts belonging to Suna’s family members and two close associates.

Officials also discovered manipulation of official records related to his own salary increments, through which he pocketed an additional ₹10.58 lakh.

The total misappropriation has been estimated at ₹2,60,21,306. Two separate Vigilance cases have been registered in connection with the scam. Suna was produced before the Bhawanipatna Special Vigilance Court following his arrest.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing to trace other individuals involved in the network and to recover the misappropriated funds.