The Odisha Vigilance has arrested Sasikanta Rana, a Senior Revenue Assistant (SRA) previously posted at the Derabish Block in Kendrapada district, in connection with a staggering Rs 3.03 crore government fund embezzlement case.
Rana, who had been evading law enforcement as a fugitive, was tracked down and apprehended in Anugola using advanced digital tracking techniques.
The arrest follows an intensive, high-level investigation initiated by Odisha Vigilance into large-scale financial irregularities. The probe revealed a calculated, multi-year operation spanning two consecutive block postings where Rana was entrusted with the establishment section—handling sensitive payroll responsibilities including salaries, arrears, and pensions.
A Dual-Block Operation
According to investigators, the siphoning of public funds occurred systematically across two tenures:
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Rajkanika Block Tenure (August 30, 2023 – September 4, 2024): Misappropriated Rs 1,46,68,118/-
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Derabish Block Tenure (January 7, 2025 – October 13, 2025): Misappropriated Rs 1,56,97,725/-
Combined, the total financial misappropriation reached Rs 3,03,65,843/-.
Modus Operandi: Exploiting the HRMS Portal
Investigators uncovered that Rana manipulated official disbursement records within the Human Resources Management System (HRMS) portal. By processing fraudulent claims for salaries, arrears, gratuity, unutilized leave, and pensions—often masquerading under the names of retired or deceased employees—he systematically bypassed legitimate channels.
Instead of routing the funds to rightful beneficiaries, Rana substituted their bank account details with private bank accounts operated by himself, his family members (spouse, father, and brother), and an associate across State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of India, and Indian Bank branches in Kendrapara. The funds were subsequently transferred via NEFT.
Legal Action and Next Steps
Cuttack Vigilance PS Case Nos. 42 and 43/2026 have been officially registered against the accused under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, alongside multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections dealing with criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The accused has been forwarded to the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Kataka. Further investigations are underway to uncover any potential wider nexus.
