Odisha Vigilance has apprehended four officials of the Watershed office in Rayagada in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Rs 20 lakh under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (NREGS).
The funds, meant for the excavation of 23 farm ponds in Kashipur Block, were reportedly siphoned off into accounts of labourers with job cards before being withdrawn.
The accused officials include Rajendra Nath Naik (Assistant Project Director), Jogendra Khosla (Soil Conservation Overseer), Deepak Kumar Sahoo (Soil Conservation Overseer), and SriKumar Nayak (Soil Conservation Extension Worker). Odisha Vigilance launched the probe after allegations surfaced regarding the non-excavation of the farm ponds despite financial disbursals.
Further verification is underway in remote and forested areas of the Kashipur Block. Authorities anticipate uncovering more misappropriations as the investigation progresses. A case has been registered at Koraput Vigilance Police Station under case number 20/21.05.2025.
Odisha Vigilance officials assert their commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring accountability in the disbursement of public funds.
