Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur: Odisha Vigilance Wednesday arrested the former in‑charge principal of Dutika Sahu College, Laida, under Rengali block in Sambalpur district, on charges of misappropriating government funds worth Rs 73.44 lakh.
The accused, Basanta Kumar Naik, currently works as a lecturer in Political Science at the same institution. According to the Vigilance Department, the alleged financial irregularities took place during Naik’s tenure as in‑charge principal between the financial years 2019‑20 and 2024‑25. After his arrest, police forwarded him to the court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.
Investigators found that Naik had allegedly siphoned off funds sanctioned for infrastructure development works at the college without carrying out the work. The probe also revealed irregularities, including false billing and non‑receipt of institutional equipment despite funds being sanctioned.
The Vigilance further alleged that government grants were diverted under the pretext of implementing automation and digital management software at the college. In connection with the case, Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station registered case number 13/26 against Naik under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 316(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The department said the alleged misappropriation involved public funds amounting to Rs 73,44,950 during the period from 2019‑20 to 2024‑25.
In another corruption case, a Vigilance court in Kendujhar district sentenced Sangram Pattnaik, presently posted as Senior Clerk at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, to two years of rigorous imprisonment. He was convicted of misappropriating the GPF refund amounts of health workers during 1999‑2003 while serving as Junior Clerk at Padmapur Community Health Centre in Kendujhar.
The funds were allegedly deducted from health workers’ salaries but not remitted to the Accountant General (AG), Odisha, Bhubaneswar.
The Vigilance said it would move the competent authority for appropriate action against Pattnaik under service rules. Steps would also be taken to dismiss him from government service in view of his conviction.