Odisha Vigilance Arrests 2 Associates of Former Suliapada BDO for Misappropriation of Govt Funds

Mayurbhanj: Odisha Vigilance has arrested two individuals, Dibyalochan Dash and Manoj Kumar Deo, for their involvement in the misappropriation of government funds amounting to ₹1.19 crore. The two associates of former Suliapada Block Development Officer (BDO), Parikhita Jena, will be presented in court today.

An official statement from Odisha Vigilance, released on Friday, confirmed that Jena was arrested on 14 August for embezzling government funds worth ₹1,19,79,788 during his tenure as BDO of Suliapada in Mayurbhanj district.

The investigation revealed that Jena transferred ₹10 lakh to Dash’s Axis Bank account in Bhanjapur on 3 and 10 March 2022. Additionally, ₹8.14 lakh was transferred to Deo’s Indian Bank account in Baripada.

A case has been registered under Sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, at the Balasore Vigilance police station.

Jena was previously arrested along with three associates—former Suliapada block cashier Debadutta Das, and private individuals Sujit Kumar Mohanty and Akhila Kumar Das—on 14 August for their role in the fund embezzlement.