₹147 Crore Siphoned Off From Odisha Cooperative Banks: Minister Reveals

Bhubaneswar: A staggering Rs 147 crore has been siphoned off from 18 Central Cooperative Banks across Odisha, Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta revealed in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

The minister informed lawmakers that authorities have managed to recover Rs 14 crore of the embezzled funds and initiated action against 521 individuals implicated in the scam.

Sundargarh district emerged as the epicentre of the corruption scandal, with losses amounting to Rs 32.23 crore. Sambalpur followed closely with Rs 30 crore in misappropriated funds. Other districts affected include Keonjhar (Rs 17 crore), Berhampur (Rs 10 crore), Banki and Balasore (Rs 9 crore each).