Odisha Vigilance has arrested three individuals, including two government engineers and a private contractor, for misappropriating Rs 55.69 lakh in the Reclamation and Renovation of Pattanaik Tank project at Paralakhemundi, Gajapati.
The investigation revealed that between 2019 and 2022, ex-Junior Engineer D. Yudhistir deliberately recorded inflated and false entries in official Measurement Books (MBs). Municipal Engineer Sanjeev Champati validated these fake measurements during check inspections, enabling contractor Surendra Panigrahi to unlawfully receive payments.
A total of Rs 1,22,40,700 was disbursed across three RA bills. An independent technical assessment confirmed substandard execution, causing a direct loss of Rs 55,69,033 to the state exchequer.
Odisha Vigilance registered Brahmapur Vigilance P.S. Case No. 07/2026 under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and multiple IPC sections including 120-B, 409, 420, 468, 471, and 477-A. All three accused will be produced in court today.
Officials said the arrests highlight Vigilance’s intensified crackdown on corruption in public works and misuse of government funds.
