Baripada: The office of the deputy director of horticulture at Takatpur here in Mayurbhanj is back in the limelight for irregularities.
Earlier, funds allotted for plantation projects were embezzled and a former deputy director was found involved in the scam. The then Collector had got the irregularities probed and the official lost his job.
Now, another case of financial irregularity has come out. A woman employee of the office has misappropriated funds using forged bills, a report said.
The office of the deputy director of horticulture of Keonjhar has sent a letter (1891, dated 20/8/2018) to the office in Takatpur, stating that a woman employee (data entry operator) had prepared forged muster rolls in the names of farmers and had embezzled funds.
The woman employee was in-charge of preparing bills and releasing funds. She committed the fraud with the help of an employee of Badasahi block and some Udyan Sathis.
The office of the deputy director of horticulture of Keonjhar in its letter has recommended legal action against those involved in the fraud. But the horticulture department, instead of taking action against the woman employee, is allegedly protecting her.
The same employee was also involved in irregularities earlier, but due to lack of evidence she had escaped.
It was alleged that around Rs 4 crore was misappropriated through forged muster rolls in Badasahi block. JMM leader Kalinga Keshari Jena told the media that he has evidence about irregularities in the sapling scam.
Jena said he has over 90 FTO (fund transfer order) numbers which were forged. He warned of a stir if no action is taken against the guilty.
Deputy director of horticulture, Kanchan Mundari, said, “Misappropriation of funds is a criminal offence. After getting a letter from the Keonjhar office, an official is looking into the case. Action will be taken against those involved in it after getting the report.”
Om Prakash Rath, deputy director of Keonjhar horticulture department, said the woman employee had misappropriated funds by exploiting the confidence her higher-ups had in her.
PNN