Embezzling Government funds has cost a Junior Engineer (JE) and a Sarpanch dear in Aul block of Kendrapada district.
The DRDA PD lodged an FIR at the Aul police station on Saturday alleging that the Government fund of Rs 16 lakh, earmarked for construction of a Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra at Padanipal panchayat was siphoned off by the duo by making an unholy nexus.
Aul police station IIC Salil Kumar Pradhan said a case was registered against Aul Block JE Manoj Behura and Sarpanch Rakesh Ranjan Rout of Padanipal GP and an inquiry was started.
According to sources, without constructing the Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra, Behura and Rout in close nexus, gulped Rs 16 lakh.
The matter was later established during an audit .
As a result, district Collector Samarth Verma directed DRDA PD Dillip Parida to conduct an inquiry and take action.
Meanwhile, the Sarpanch and the JE were absconding.