A significant financial fraud involving the embezzlement of government funds has been uncovered, leading to the Odisha Vigilance apprehending three individuals, one of whom is a government official, for their suspected involvement in a VAT refund scam worth Rs 4.03 crore.
According to an official press release, Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury, both private individuals, along with Abinash Pradhan, a staff member of the CT & GST Department in Bhubaneswar (currently serving as Assistant Commercial Tax Officer in Jeypore), were arrested following an extensive investigation by the Vigilance Department.
The inquiry revealed that the accused conspired with another official from the CT & GST Department to illegally secure a VAT refund of Rs 4.03 crore by altering financial documents and presenting forged statutory forms. They impersonated authorized representatives of M/s G.E Verona T&D Ltd (formerly known as GE T&D India Ltd) to misappropriate the funds.
As a result of the investigation, a criminal case has been filed against them under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including charges of forgery, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy.
The suspects were brought before the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, in Bhubaneswar, on Thursday after substantial evidence linked them to the crime. The Vigilance Department also indicated that further investigations are underway to identify additional individuals connected to the scam.
