Ex-PEO, former Sarpanch arrested over Rs 9.59L panchayat fund misappropriation

Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested a former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) and a former Sarpanch of Panchupada Gram Panchayat under Sadar Block in Balasore district for allegedly misappropriating government funds amounting to Rs 9,59,875. Forwarded To Court The accused have been identified as Sanjay Kumar Pandit, former PEO of Panchupada Gram Panchayat and presently posted as PEO in Sadar Block, Balasore, and Ganesh Chandra Das, former Sarpanch of Panchupada Gram Panchayat. Following their arrest, both accused were forwarded to the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Balasore. According to Odisha Vigilance, an extensive investigation into the alleged misappropriation revealed several irregularities in the handling of Gram Panchayat funds. Vigilance Flags Four Major Irregularities Investigators alleged that money collected through official Gram Panchayat receipts was deliberately not entered in the GP cash book. The probe also reportedly found that funds received under the Central Finance Commission and State Finance Commission grants were transferred to the Gram Panchayat account without proper authorisation and subsequently adjusted against development works without supporting documents. Vigilance further alleged that cash was withdrawn directly from the GP fund without corresponding accounting entries. Another irregularity detected during the investigation involved the alleged payment of monthly remuneration to the Naib Sarpanch even after he had resigned from the post. Vigilance claimed that the remuneration was falsely shown as having been disbursed. Case Registered, Probe Continues In connection with the alleged irregularities, Balasore Vigilance Police Station registered Case No. 20/2026 against the two accused under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, and sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal breach of trust, falsification of accounts and criminal conspiracy. Odisha Vigilance said further investigation into the alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds is underway.