Keonjhar/Hatadihi: A two-member team of state Planning and Convergence department launched an inquiry into the alleged irregularities, misuse and misappropriation of funds of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in Keonjhar district following directions from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), a report said Wednesday.
The order for a probe came after a formal complaint was lodged with the CMO earlier this month. A detailed report on the issue of irregularities was first published in Orissa POST August 6. The team comprising deputy secretary Jyotshnamayee Khuntia and another offi cial Anil Patra arrived in Keonjhar Tuesday and verified various papers and documents for the last two days. Officials said the investigating team has already collected several crucial documents. The probe will be conducted on the basis of the complaint, and a report will be submitted to the CMO, Patra said. Meanwhile, a separate case concerning alleged misappropriation of DMF funds (WP(C) PIL- 26601/2024) has been filed in the Orissa High Court.
Acting on the High Court directives and recommendations of a state-level committee, a second investigation began Wednesday. Sambalpur Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Sachin R Yadav and Additional Secretary of the Planning and Convergence department Pradyumna Kumar Mahakud visited the Keonjhar DMF office and launched a probe. Reports said that the Keonjhar District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), through order no-4302, dated September 30, 2021, posted a junior revenue assistant (JRA) Uday Narayan Jena to the Ombudsman Cell. The order also stated that he would assist the senior revenue assistant (SRA) of DMF.
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However, reports allege that without proper authorisation, Jena independently managed all DMF file-related work. He allegedly processed fi les, cleared projects without official sanction, and approved inflated allocations running into several crores of rupees. It has further been alleged that,despite being a government employee, Jena was paid lakhs of rupees as remuneration from DMF funds.
Several irregularities in the DMF office are suspected to have taken place using his signature. The complaint also noted that an earlier order issued by former DMF chairperson and the then-Collector N Thirumala Naik (order no273, dated September 7, 2017) was ignored. The complaint was formally lodged with the CMO August 1. Acting on complaints, the CMO directed the State Planning and Convergence department to launch an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the DMF funds.
