Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on alleged corruption and financial irregularities, three separate cases involving public officials and local governance representatives have come to light in Odisha, highlighting continued action against alleged misuse of public funds and bribery.
In Jagatsinghpur district, police arrested Balia Panchayat Sarpanch Sarojini Nayak and her male friend, Ranjan Kumar Ojha, over the alleged misappropriation of government funds amounting to Rs 46.86 lakh. The case also involves the then Panchayat Executive Officer, Raghunath Champia, who was arrested earlier. All three have been sent to judicial custody following the rejection of their bail pleas.
In another development, Odisha Vigilance arrested Suresh Kumar Dalabehera, Principal of Government ITI, Balangir, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from guest instructors. He had reportedly demanded Rs 1.15 lakh from nine instructors in exchange for continuation of their jobs and regular salary payments. The arrest followed a vigilance trap, and simultaneous searches were initiated at properties linked to him.
Meanwhile, Baliapal Sub-Registrar Manisha Mishra was apprehended by Odisha Vigilance while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000 from a land buyer to facilitate the registration of a sale deed in Balasore district. The tainted money was recovered, and searches were conducted at two locations associated with the officer.
These three cases underscore the importance of transparency, accountability and vigilance in public administration. Further investigations are underway in the respective cases.
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