Mamita Meher murder: Govind Sahu’s college received govt funds

Bhubaneswar/Balangir: It seems Govind Sahu, prime accused in woman teacher Mamita Meher murder case had a strong lobby in the power corridor. Official sources said the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) had sanctioned fund to the Anchalika (Junior) Mahavidyalaya, Mahaling in Kalahandi district on different occasions.

Govind Sahu was president of the School Managing Committee of Sunshine English Medium School and Anchalika (Junior) Mahavidyalaya, Mahaling.

In 2010-11, WODC granted Rs 2 lakh from its fund for construction of a library hall of the Junior College at Mahaling. Additional Rs 4 lakh were sanctioned the same year for a library reading room of the junior college.

For construction of class rooms of the junior college Rs 2.4 lakh were sanctioned in 2010-11 and another Rs 2.83 lakh in 2011-12.

The Western Odisha Development Council granted Rs 5 lakh for construction of the girls’ common room at the college in 2014-15. Besides in 2017, money was sanctioned from the MPLAD fund for construction of dais on the premises of the college.

In 2018, money was granted from the MLA LAD fund for construction of a dining hall of the boys’ hostel. The junior college received Rs 5 lakh from the MPLAD fund again in 2017-18.

The Chairperson of WODC laid foundation stone for additional class room and auditorium of the junior college.

The list of funds that the Mahaling Junior College does not end here as money from the State exchequer were spent for construction of roads to the education institution on different occasions.

A road was constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) up to the Mahaling College at the cost of Rs 4 lakh. Later the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) raised objection to the road construction in its report as the road was supposed to be built up to Kuliapada.

Another Rs 6 lakh were spent from WODC fund for construction of lanes of the women’s hostel, corridor and sidewall of the college were built in 2012-13.

Also, Rs 3 lakh were sanctioned by the WODC for building of laws of the junior college.

Also read: Watch: Govind Sahu Narrates How He Disposed Of Mamita Meher’s Body

Worth mentioning, the 52-year-old civil contractor-turned-education entrepreneur Govind Sahu allegedly murdered Mamita Meher, the Principal of the Sunshine English Medium School, and chopped her body. Before burying the body parts in an under-construction mini stadium near the Mahaling junior college, the accused burnt them with the help of petrol, cardboard and broken furniture to destroy evidence.

The woman teacher murder case created furore in the State as several influential people including Minister of State, Capt Dibyashankar Mishra have been accused of having rapport with Govind Sahu.