The Special Judge, Vigilance, Baripada, convicted Gouranga Charan Mohanty, OAS, Former Special Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) of the Subarnarekha Irrigation Project, Laxmiposi, Baripada, along with four retired bank officials, in a major corruption case.
The convicted officials include Akhandal Prasad Mohanty, Former Branch Manager of Bank of India, NOU Branch, Takatpur, Baripada; Purusotom Mohanty, Former Staff Officer of the same branch; Sudam Chandra Sahoo, Former Clerk; and Santanu Kumar Kar, Former Head Cashier. All five retired officials faced charges filed by Odisha Vigilance under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with multiple sections of the IPC, including 403, 409, 467, 468, 471, 477‑A, and 120‑B.
Investigators proved that the officials misappropriated ₹37,08,708, including accrued interest, by forging documents and violating bank norms without government authorisation. The Vigilance Court found them guilty and sentenced each to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹50,000.
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance announced plans to move the competent authority to stop the pension benefits of Gouranga Charan Mohanty and the four retired bank officials. The department emphasised that pension stoppage would reinforce accountability and ensure that convicted officials do not continue to enjoy government privileges.
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