Odisha’s anti-corruption agency has arrested two senior panchayat officials for allegedly siphoning off government funds meant to support elderly and widowed beneficiaries.
The accused, Tuna Pradhan, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO), and Sagar Kumar Das, Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS) from Kanas Panchayat Samiti in Puri district, were taken into custody today. They are accused of embezzling Rs21.98 lakh over three years.
These funds were allocated for the Old Age Pension (OAP) and Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) schemes, which provide essential financial aid to thousands of vulnerable individuals across Odisha.
Officials revealed that the duo failed to distribute the pension payments to eligible recipients during the fiscal years 2022-23 through 2024-25, instead diverting the money for personal gain.
