Hatadihi: A four-member team has been formed to investigate allegations that pensions meant for 30 deceased beneficiaries were fraudulently withdrawn using forged thumb impressions in Danara panchayat under Hatadihi block in Kendujhar district.
The team comprises the assistant block development officer, block social security officer and two panchayat executive officers (PEOs).
It will investigate alleged irregularities across panchayats, Block Development Officer Ranjan Kumar Parida said.
Parida and newly appointed PEO Ajay Nayak said the alleged offences involved retaining deceased beneficiaries’ names on pension rolls and withdrawing funds in their names using forged thumb impressions.
They described the alleged misappropriation as a planned fraud involving government money.
They said legal action could be initiated under Sections 318(4), 336, 338 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act if the involvement of the sarpanch, PEO or other officials was established.
Block Social Security Officer Swati Singh said the administration had written to all panchayats in May seeking details of deceased and ineligible beneficiaries.
The exercise continued until June, but Danara panchayat allegedly failed to submit information about deceased beneficiaries.
Singh also alleged that the sarpanch had not handed over old pension registers and other records required for verification, hampering the inquiry.
When contacted, the husband of sarpanch Arati Jena answered her phone and denied any irregularities or misappropriation, dismissing the allegations as false propaganda.
Under the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, the sarpanch has supervisory responsibility for pension distribution.
Failure to remove deceased beneficiaries from pension lists may invite action, including a notice from the District Collector and removal from office, if warranted under the applicable provisions.
Advocates Manoj Pani and Anil Barik said judicial rulings had emphasised the need to prevent fraudulent pension payments and protect public funds.
They cited several judgments concerning accountability for misappropriation, including cases they identified as State of Odisha vs Choudhury Nayak (2010) and Union of India vs Avtar Singh (2006).
They also referred to Union of India vs Indraraj (2025) and Khageswar Sa vs State of Odisha (2026), arguing that returning misappropriated money would not necessarily extinguish criminal liability and that officials could be held accountable if their involvement were established.
The advocates further cited judgments concerning the misuse of public funds and the withdrawal of financial powers from elected panchayat representatives in cases of proven corruption.
Separately, a vigilance police case, No. 40/16, was registered October 16,2026 in Dhenkanal district over alleged misappropriation of government funds.
Anandapur Sub-Collector Nilamadhab Suna said the matter was being processed.
The allegations against the Danara panchayat representatives have yet to be established through the investigation.
