Odisha Vigilance secured the conviction of Gourahari Patra, former Dealing Assistant–cum-Despatch Clerk of the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Circle, Baripada, in a corruption case.
The verdict marks a major success in the state’s anti-corruption drive.
On April 18, 2026, the Special Judge (Vigilance), Baripada, sentenced Patra to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine after finding him guilty under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 468, 420, 471, and 409 of the IPC.
Investigators proved that Patra misappropriated government funds meant for contractor license fees by falsifying official records and diverting money that should have been deposited in the bank. Odisha Vigilance filed the charge sheet after uncovering evidence of deliberate manipulation and forgery.
Officials said the Vigilance Department will now approach the competent authority to stop Patra’s pension following his conviction. The department reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in public offices.
