Berhampur: Khetramohon nayak,Panchayat Excutive officer(PEO)of Radhadeipur panchayat in Sanakhemundi block of Ganjam district has been arrested by Berhampur vigilance sleuths today,on the charge of massive misappropriation of government funds.Vigilance office sources said,PEO Nayak,has allegedly embezzled the government money to the tune of Rs 43,01,640 from CFC, SFC, PDS and OAP accounts of the Gram Panchayat by abusing his office position and forging signature of Sarpanch through cheques from accounts in Axis Bank and Canara Bank of Digapahandi Branch.Nayak was posted as the PEO in July 2024.He allegedly misappropriated the government funds for betting on cricket and gaming applications.The Berhampur Vigilance filed a case in this connection under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(a) P.C. Act, 1988 as amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018/316(5)/336(3)/338/340(2) BNS.Sources said,Sarapanch D.Rakesh kumar patra on 13/3/2025 has alleged to the Sanakhemundi BDO that the amounts released to the panchayat in between October 2024 to second week of march 2025 by union and state govt,has been withdrawn without his knowledge.The amounts were deposited at four bank accounts of the panchayat.Accordingly the BDO issued a show cause to the PEO to submit the reply within a week.The BDO also formed a team to look into the matter.Yesterday the team submitted their report and the BDO forwarded the same to collector Dibyajyoti parida.On the otherhand,the PEO didnot submitted his reply on the show cause,even after the stipulated time and returned to his residence after office hours.Since the PEO tried to avoid,the Sarapanch lodged a complaint with Patapur PS.Basing on it,Patapur IIC,Diptiranjan behera whisked the PEO from his residence at Berhampur to Patapur PS in the evening.Meanwhile the vigilance team has examined several files and also quizzed the staffs.The team also took several relevant documents from the PEO`s office.For interrogation,PEO,Nayak has been brought to Berhamur vigilance office from Patapur PS,yesterday night,informed Berhampur vigilance division,SP,Pradeep kumar pradhan and added that searches are being on at the office of the PEO and at his residence.
