PEO Arrested for ₹12.87 Lakh Fund Misuse in Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Friday arrested former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) Binayak Nayak for allegedly siphoning off government funds amounting to ₹12.87 lakh meant for development projects in Kuerimandu Gram Panchayat under Phiringia block of Kandhamal district.

Vigilance officials said Nayak misappropriated ₹12,87,201 from the State Finance Commission (SFC) Fund during February–March 2025. The expenditure was reportedly shown as “utilised” despite no developmental work being executed on the ground.

After detecting the financial irregularities, the Berhampur Vigilance Division registered a case under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Nayak has been detained and will be produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Phulbani. Officials said the investigation is ongoing to track the flow of the misused funds and identify any other individuals involved.