The Special Judge, Vigilance, Balasore, has convicted two retired officials for misappropriating over 1,266 quintals of rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The accused—Jhasaketan Pradhan, former Assistant Civil Supplies Officer, and Bijay Kumar Nayak, former Store-cum-Godown Assistant at the Rice Receiving Centre (RRC), Balasore—were sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined.
The duo was charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC for abusing their official positions and conspiring to siphon off government food stock, causing significant financial loss.
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has announced plans to approach the competent authority to initiate pension stoppage proceedings against both retired officials.
