Vigilance court awards jail term to two persons for misappropriating govt fund

Jeypore: The Special Vigilance Court today pronounced quantum of punishment for  Suresh Kumar Behera, working as Assistant Engineer and Seikh Gafoor, a resident of Thuba village under Nandapur of Koraput district for embezzlement of government funds.

Special Judge Vigilance, Jeypore, Srikanta Mishra awarded rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years and six months and penalty of Rs 5.2 lakh to Suresh Kumar.

Another accused Seikh Gaffor was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years and six months and to pay fine of Rs 4 lakh in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months.

The Vigilance chargesheeted three persons including Suresh Kumar and Seikh for allegedly misappropriating Rs 5 lakh government funds released for a road construction work in Thuba panchayat under Nandapur block in 2013.

The sleuths filed chargesheet against Suresh Kumar Behera, working as Assistant Engineer and Seikh Gafoor, a resident of Thuba village under Nandapur of Koraput district and one Laxmi Narayana Samantray against whom the case was abated following his death during trial.

In close connivance between Suresh Kumar, who was a Junior Engineer during 2013, Seikh, a village contractor and Laxmi Narayana, who was an Assistant Engineer, the fund misappropriation occurred. They prepared false bills without execution of a road construction work at Thuba gram panchayat. Suresh Kumar prepared the plan and estimate which was technically sanctioned by the Assistant Engineer.

After receiving some allegations of misappropriation Koraput Collector directed the then BDO, Nandapur to inquire into the matter and visit the work site. Finding there was no construction work at the site as per the agreement and bill, the BDO submitted a report to the Collector. There was no road work except construction of some retaining wall. Following this, the Vigilance department lodged a case.