Two Panchayat Executive Officers (PEO) of Sundargarh district, who were facing alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 24.44 lakh and Rs 9.1 lakh, respectively, and had been on the run following filing of cases against them by the Vigilance, surrendered on Wednesday. Both the PEOs were forwarded to judicial custody, since their bail petition was rejected.
Sources said Kamal lochan Kissan has been presently posted as PEO in Bhutunda gram panchayat of lahunipara block. He was reportedly in dual charge of PEO of Badapurunapani GP and Sasykala GP, from August 2012 to December 2017.
During verification of cash book, voucher and other documents, it had come to the fore that Kissan had taken an amount of Rs 25,90,600 from the office, towards disbursement of old age pension, but had record of disbursement of Rs 1,25,600 and had returned an amount of Rs 21,000 to the office. He reportedly had neither produced voucher of the remaining amount of Rs 24,44, 000 nor refunded the same to the office.
Similarly, Tikeswar Munda, now working as PEO in Gopana GP of Koira block also allegedly faced misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 9.1 lakh, during his posting as PEO in Daleisara and Phuljhar GP under lahunipara block of the district. During his posting as PEO in these two GPs, between January 2011 and August 2015, he had taken total advance of Rs 55, 31,700 from his office, towards disbursement of old age pension.
But, during verification, it had come to light that he had disbursed Rs 41, 51,700 and refunded an amount of Rs 3, 69,200 in his office. Since there has been no record of Rs 9, 10, 800, the Vigilance department has registered a case of misappropriation of funds against his name for this amount.