Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance Monday carried out search operations at six locations linked to a senior revenue assistant (SRA) arrested for allegedly misappropriating more than Rs 3 crore of government funds, officials said.
Bhanja Kishore Behera, currently posted as an SRA at Naugaon Tehsil in Jagatsinghpur district, was allegedly involved in the fraud while serving as an SRA at Tirtol block in the coastal district, they said. He was arrested August 12.
“During an extensive investigation spanning financial years 2011-12 through 2021-22, we uncovered a systematically executed financial fraud centred at the Tirtol block office by Behera, Ex-SRA, the main accused,” the Vigilance said in a statement.
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Behera allegedly misappropriated the funds by fabricating and tampering with government salary registers and disbursal documents, it said.
During interrogation, Behera admitted to acquiring assets, including a palatial building on more than 7,000 sq ft of land, a tent house and other valuables with around Rs 2 crore of the misappropriated amount, officials said.
During the searches till 1 pm, Vigilance sleuths also found two multi-storey buildings in his name, articles worth Rs 30.44 lakh in the tent house, 210 grams of gold and a four-wheeler, an official said.
PTI
