Ex-PEO, Ex-Sarpanch Arrested in Balasore Over Rs. 9.59 Lakh GP Fund Misappropriation

News Odishabarta

Baleshwar, September 4, 2026: Odisha Vigilance on Friday arrested a former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) and a former Sarpanch of Panchupada Gram Panchayat under Sadar Block in Baleshwar district for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of government funds amounting to Rs. 9,59,875.

The arrested persons have been identified as Sanjay Kumar Pandit, former PEO of Panchupada Gram Panchayat and presently posted as PEO under Sadar Block, Baleshwar, and Ganesh Chandra Das, former Sarpanch of Panchupada Gram Panchayat.

Following their arrest, both accused were forwarded to the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Baleshwar.

According to Odisha Vigilance, an extensive investigation into the alleged misappropriation revealed a systematic diversion of Gram Panchayat funds through several financial irregularities.

The investigation found that official money receipts collected by the Gram Panchayat were allegedly suppressed and not entered in the GP cash book. Further, Central Finance Commission (CFC) and State Finance Commission (SFC) grants were allegedly transferred to the Gram Panchayat account without proper authorisation and subsequently shown as spent on development works without supporting records.

The Vigilance investigation also detected direct cash withdrawals from the Gram Panchayat fund without corresponding accounting entries.

In another serious irregularity, monthly remuneration was allegedly shown as paid to the Naib Sarpanch, despite the fact that he had already resigned from the post.

In connection with the alleged financial irregularities, Baleshwar Vigilance Police Station Case No. 20/2026 has been registered against the accused duo under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 409, 477-A and 120-B of the IPC.

Odisha Vigilance said that the investigation into the case is continuing.