Former PEO Convicted in PMAY Bribery Case, Sentenced to Three Years in Jail

Bhubaneswar: A former Panchayat Extension Officer (PEO) of Gopalpur Gram Panchayat under Thuamul Rampur Block in Kalahandi district has been convicted in a bribery case by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna.

The convicted official, Kshyama Prasad Duria, was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 6,000 from a beneficiary to process and clear a pending bill of Rs. 20,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

According to official sources, the beneficiary had approached Duria for the release of funds sanctioned under the housing scheme. However, the accused allegedly demanded illegal gratification to facilitate the payment. Following a complaint, Odisha Vigilance initiated an investigation and subsequently registered a case against him.

After examining the evidence and hearing the arguments, the court sentenced Duria to three years of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000. In default of payment of the fine, he will have to undergo additional imprisonment as per court directions.

Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has stated that steps will be taken to move the competent authority for Duria’s dismissal from government service in accordance with prevailing rules.

The conviction reiterates the state’s continued crackdown on corruption and its commitment to ensuring transparency in the implementation of welfare schemes such as PMAY.