Odisha Vigilance Cracks Down on Rs.55.69 Lakh Pattanaik Tank Renovation Scam
Ex-Junior Engineer, Municipal Engineer and Contractor Arrested for Alleged Fraud in Paralakhemundi Development Project
Bureau, Odishabarta
Brahmapur, August 6: In a major crackdown on corruption and the alleged misappropriation of public funds, the Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested three persons, including two government engineering officials and a private contractor, in connection with a Rs.55.69 lakh financial irregularity in the Reclamation and Renovation of Pattanaik Tank project at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district.
The arrests followed an extensive Vigilance investigation which allegedly uncovered a well-planned conspiracy involving fake entries in official Measurement Books (MBs), falsification of records, and sub-standard execution of the government-funded project, resulting in a substantial loss to the state exchequer.
Project Executed Between 2019 and 2022
According to Odisha Vigilance, the tank renovation project was executed during the period 2019 to 2022, during which a total amount of Rs.1,22,40,700 was released to the contractor through three Running Account (RA) bills after statutory tax deductions.
Fake Measurement Entries Detected
The investigation revealed that the then Junior Engineer, Sri D. Yudhistir, allegedly recorded deliberately inflated and false measurements in the official Measurement Books for works that were either not executed or were executed far below the prescribed standards.
During the mandatory verification process, Municipal Engineer Sri Sanjeev Champati allegedly certified and endorsed these false measurements as correct, thereby facilitating the release of government funds.
Contractor Received Full Payment
Based on these allegedly fraudulent certifications, the entire project amount of Rs.1.22 crore was released to contractor Sri Surendra Panigrahi.
However, an independent technical assessment conducted by Odisha Vigilance found that work valued at Rs.55,69,033 had either not been executed or was of sub-standard quality, causing a direct financial loss to the Government of Odisha.
Criminal Case Registered
In connection with the scam, Brahmapur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 07/2026 has been registered against the three accused under the following provisions:
Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 409 (Criminal Breach of Trust), 420 (Cheating), 468 (Forgery for Purpose of Cheating), 471 (Using Forged Documents as Genuine), and 477-A (Falsification of Accounts) of the Indian Penal Code.
Accused Forwarded to Court
Odisha Vigilance officials stated that all three accused were arrested and would be produced before the competent court on Thursday. The investigation is continuing to ascertain whether additional officials or beneficiaries were involved in the alleged conspiracy.
The case is being viewed as another significant action by Odisha Vigilance in its continuing drive against corruption, financial misconduct, and misuse of public development funds.
