5 Crore Scam in Jajpur Tahasil under Jajpur district

5 Crore Scam  in Jajpur  Tahasil  under Jajpur district

Dear  friends

On 9.10.19., Lokayukta  has  issued  notice  to Director, State Vigilance  seeking  report  about  status  of  investigation into allegation  of  corruption and misappropriation  of Rs. 5 crore  ( Rs. 5,00,00,000)  by officials  in Jajpur  Tahasil  under Jajpur  district. Though State   Vigilance  registered a case  File No. 05 dated 20.1.2018 on complaint of misappropriation of huge revenue  by the  officials  of Jajpur Tahail, no legal action has been  taken  against   any  officials, though  more  than  one  and half year passed.  Chairman,  Lokayukta  has  fixed date 18.11.19  for  hearing  of the case.

Sri Sarbeswar Behuria, RTI Activist had  filed  a  complaint in the  office  of Lokayukta, Odisha  seeking inquiry  into  misappropriation  of Rs. 5  crore  by officials  of Jajpur  Tahasil. He  had alleged  that  though  State  Vigilance   registered  vigilance  case  on 20.1.18.  against  officials, but  remained  silence  more  than  one year.

Case  History

on 25.7.2019., Sarbeswar filed  RTI Application to the PIO, office  of Collector, jajpur seeking  copy of the Special Audit Report  of  Audit  Team of Board  of Revenue, Odisha . On 10.9.19, the PIO, office  of  Collectorate, Jajpur  supplied  the   copy  of Audit  Report. While  going  through  the  report, it  was observed that as per the Board’s memo No. 206 /Aud. Dt. 2.4.16.,  Special audit  team  of Board of Revenue conducted audit on misappropriation of Govt. fund in Jajpur  Tahasil  within period  of 1.4.2006 to 5.4.2016.  Audit was  conducted from 5.4.16 to 31.8.17.  The Special Audit Report No. 02/2017-2018 submitted  to Govt.  has  made  detailed  description  of  how   around Rs. 5 crore has  been  misappropriated  by a bunch  of Govt. official  of Jajpur  Tahasil   starting  from Tahasildar to Head Clerck, Nazir  and many  others.   The  Audit  had  strongly  recommended for  departmental  proceedings  and /or prosecution  at the  earliest moment under OCS (CAA &A) Rules, 1962/OCS (PENSION) Rules, 1992 on the basis  of audit paras.  Inquiry  by State  Vigilance  was  suppressed   for  the  reasons best  known  to  Inquiry  office  of Directorate  of State  Vigilance, Cuttack.

It  was  found  from a  letter  dt. 30.7.19. of SP, Vigialnce, Cuttack  addressed  to  the  Collector, Jajpur district   that  during   the  financial  year 2015-16, Sri Laxmikanta Mishra, OAS the  then Tahasildar , Jajpur  with  ulterior  motive  conspired with Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, the then Nazir  of  his  office  transferred  land acquisition  compensation amount  of Rs. 5  crore , Rs. 51, 42, 565/- &  Rs. 18,61,549/-  from DDO  account  to the  tahasil SB Account  instead  of  land  acquisition account.  Subsequently, Sri Mishra  issued  self cheques  to Sri Rajat Kumar Routray , though  he was transferred  from Tahasil office  and the  amounts were  credited  to personal account  of  Sri Routray.  After  detection of such illegal  act, Sri Routray, Ex-Nazir  submitted  cheques for  aforesaid  received  amount in  the  Tahasil office.

On the allegation of mutual  conspiracy, falsification of  official  records and misappropriation  of Government  Fund  of Rs. 34, 65,237/- ,  Cuttack Vigilance  P S Case  No. 19 dt. 18.7.19 u/s 13 (1) (c ) (d) of P.C. Act , 1988 /  409/477-A/120-B IPC   dt. 18.7.2019 has been registered  for  detailed  investigation.

Details   of  Money  misappropriated  as  follows

Sl.No.	Name  of Officer/ Head Clerck/ Nazir  involved	Designation	Amount
1	Bijay Kumar Khandayatray, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar , Jajpur	Rs. 8,65,769.00
2	Sudhansu Sekhar  Nayak, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar , Jajpur	Rs. 1,98,256.00
3	Kumarbar  Nayak, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar, Jajpur	Rs. 14,41,833.00
4	Manas Ranjan Samal	Ex-Tahasildar, Jajpur	Rs. 27, 08,160.00
5	Gourahari Behera, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar, Jajpur	Rs. 1,12,98,564.00
6	Mamata Barik, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar, Jajpur	Rs. 2,80,78,174.00
7	Laxmikant Mishra, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar, Jajpur	Rs. 47,67,405.00
8	Mamata Barik, OAS	Ex-Tahasildar, Jajpur	Rs. 86,665.00
9	Bhmsen Das	Ex-Head Clerck,	Rs. 3080.00
10	Niranjan Das	DO	Cash Book  Not  analysed
11	Dibyasingh Otta	Ex-Head  Clerck	Rs. 8,48,989.00
12	Rabindranath Pati	DO	Rs. 43,61,949.00
13	Sarat Ch. Barik	Ex-I/C Head  Clerck	Rs. 13,60,716.00
14	Natabar Pati	Ex-Head  Clerck	Rs. 2,75,845 .00
15	Ajay Kumar Sahoo	DO	Rs. 3,76,61,076.00
16	Rajanikant Sahoo	DO	Rs. 14,34,899.00
17	Debi Prasanna Dhal	DO	Rs. 34,98,272.00
18	Rajat Kumar  Routray Sr. Clerck	Ex-Nazir	Rs. 4, 47,14,457.00
19	Sarat Ch. Barik Sr. Clerck	DO	Rs. 47,06,849.00
20	Prasant Kumar Nayak, Sr. Clerck	DO	Rs. 14,125 .00 ( recovered)
21	Dasarath Das, Sr. Clerck	Ex-Record Keeper	Rs. 9195.00 ( recovered)

 Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 16.11.19

Lokayukta, Odisha directed State Vigilance to inquire into corruption Talasare GP

Lokayukta, Odisha  directed  State  Vigilance   to inquire  into allegation of  corruption  in development  work  undertaken  in Talasara  Gram Panchayat  under  Ganjam district.

Dear friends

Acting  on a  complaint  filed  by  Simanchal Jena, RTI  Activist, Lokayukta, Odisha  has  directed   Director, Vigilance  to  conduct  vigilance  inquiry  into  allegation of  corruption ,  irregularities  and  misappropriation of fund  in Pradhanmantri Gramin Awas Yojana, MGNREGA  and Biju Pucca Gruha Yojana in Talasara  Gram Panchayat  under  Beguniapada  Block  of  Ganjam district  and  submit report  within two months. Lokayukta  has fixed   next  hearing  of the  case on 6.1.2020.   

Sri Simanchal Jena, RTI  Activist  of Ganjam district  had  filed  RTI Application  to  the PIO,  office  of BDO , Beguniapada  Block   about  details of various  development  undertaken  under  various  scheme. After  getting  all  information,  Simanchal  cross-checked  the  information with the  beneficiaries  and  physically  inspected  the work. He  noticed huge  irregularities  and  misappropriation of fund  in various  work.  Few  cases are   cited  herewith.

·         In the year 2018-19, Puja Guru, D/o- Ratnakar Guru, At- Gopalapur,Po- Talasara, A  9^th class school girl ,age of 14 years, but surprisingly her age has mentioned as 57 years to get a PRADHAN MANTRI GRAMIN AWAS GRUHA Yojana  and sanctioned amount of Rs. 1,30,000 /- in favour of her.        The same minor girl’s age has been changed 14 years as 18 years in the job card and engaged as a day labour in MGNREGA work by Ms. Jena.

·         Pradeep Kumar jena, S/o- Udaya Jena, aged about 33 years old of Talasara Village has been working as a Health Worker in Government Primary Health Centre, Sumandala. He has a job card no-OR-12-002-022-009/12370,Dtd.25/02/2007 which has been issued by Ms. Jena & also engaged him as a day labour in MGNREGA work.   

·         In the year 2017-18 an amount of Rs. 5, 43,578 /- was sanctioned for the Road & Plantation work from Talasara Biripur sahi to Balinai of Talasara G.P. But Ms. Suchitra Jena & Vendor Mr. P.Prakash Rao Dora,S/o- late Ulla Dora has taken the above sanctioned money by making false bills without any work .

·         In the year 2014-15, the officer of Horticulture Dept.,Beguniapada Block Mr.Bhabagrahi Behera (AHO), Sri Kanduri Panda (Field Staff) & Ms. Suchitra Jena (GRS) have taken false khata & plot number from the farmers & haven’t done any Cashew Plantation  but have transferred an amount of 5,82,108/-  to 11 farmers account and accountable for the loss of revenue of State Govt. No action has been taken even it has been informed to the higher officials of the concerned dept.

On 5.8.19., he  filed   complaint  petition  in the  office of Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar  seeking  an inquiry  into the matter  and  demanded   legal  action against  the  officials  involved  in corruption.  The  case  was  registered     as  Case  No. LY -215/19. Hearing  the  complaint, the  Lokayukta  conducted  preliminary  inquiry  under  section 20  of the Odisha Lokayukta  Act  and  sough  preliminary  report  from the  officials  against  whom complaint lodged.  After  going  through the preliminary  report and subsequent  counter-reply  filed by  Complainant, on 29.10.19.,  Lokayukta  handed  over  this  case  to  Director, State  Vigilance  to  conduct  inquiry     and produce  the report within two months.

Simanchal  can be  contacted  9777306007.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-8.11.19

Lokayukta, Odisha issued Notice to 6 officers on Nagada issue

Lokayukta, Odisha issued Notice to 6 officers  of Jajpur district on allegation of corruption and misappropriation  of  Fund  amounting Rs. 23 crores  sanctioned  for  development  of Nagada village  under Jajpur  district.

Dear  friends

Hearing a Complaint petition ( Registered  as LY 455/19)  filed  by Pradip Pradhan, RTI Activist  about  allegation of  corruption  and misuse  of  Rs. 23 crores  fund sanctioned  for  development  of  Juang Tribes  in Nagada village  under Sukinda Block of  Jajpur  District,  Lokayukta, Odisha,  had   issued  notice on 25.10.19 to  6  Districts Officials ( Project Director, DRDA, Executive Engineer, RD-1, Jajpur Town (4), Executive  Engineer,  Electrical, Jajpur Road, Executive Engineer, RWSS, Jajpur, BDO, Sukinda, District Social Welfare Officer, Jajpur  to  reply within six weeks  and fixed  date  on 9.12.19  for next hearing  of the case.

On RTI Query, District administration, Jajpur  has  supplied  details of    utilization  of Rs. 23  crores  by  various  line departments  in Nagada Village . Having  obtained  this  information,   a five-member  Civil Society  Group of  Right to Food Campaign, Odisha  had visited Nagada  on 8.6.19.  for monitoring  of works  and physical  verification of  utilization of  fund.  During  field inspection, the Team  found very  half hazard work, low quality  of houses  constructed  under Biju Pucca Gruha Yojana, Electricity  connection without  supply of  electricity, No supply  of drinking water , failure  of food security  programme  to enhance  their  food  and livelihood security and  huge misappropriation of  fund in  construction of work.    

Preparing a comparative chart , Sri Pradip Pradhan  filed  a complaint petition on 14.10.19  on Lokayukta, Odisha  seeking  an independent  investigation into huge  corruption and misappropriation  of fund  in Nagada village.

It  deserves  to mention here that  Nagada, a revenue village and habitation of Juang Primitive Tribal Groups is surrounded by mountainous forest from all sides touched headline  of newspapers on  12^th July 2016  about death of 19   infant   of  Juang tribes  ( Primitive Tribal Groups) .   This news  followed widespread  criticism and  series of public protests by  different opposition political parties  and Civil Society Groups  against  State Govt. and its failure  to  protect  life  of  tribal  children  in the state. In face  of  public  criticism,  the State  Govt.  made a number  of  intervention engaging officials  of various departments  like  Health  and Family Welfare Dept., women and Child Development Dept., Panchayat Raj Dept.,   Environment  and Forest Dept., Revenue Department  to check malnutrition, improve health condition of  malnourished  children, ensure  livelihood  and road  connectivity to the village.  Huge  amount  of fund  of different  departments  was also spent  for  improvement of  livelihood  of the  villagers  of Nagada village. Revenue  Divisional  Commissioner, Central Division was  appointed  as chairman  of monitoring team  to  monitor  all the Govt. activities  in Nagada village.

By  Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 1.11.19

Conspiracy of Officials to grant illegal extension of Directors in OHPC

To,

Sri Naveen Patnaik

The Honorable Chief Minister, Odisha

 Bhubaneswar.

Sub:       Extension of term of Directors in OHPC – Regarding.

 Sir

I would like to draw your kind attention the  following matter seeking  your kind intervention and necessary action.

1.  Odisha Hydro Power Corporation or OHPC is a Public Sector Undertaking of Government of Odisha  which was incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 on 21 April 1995 with the objective of establishing, operating, maintaining, renovating & modernizing hydro, thermal and other forms of power generating station besides owning, developing and operating coal mines for supply of fuel to the thermal power stations. It  is one  of  the best PSUs managed effectively  by Professionals in our state.

   

2.  As I understand,  the Directors of this PSU are appointed by  Department of Public Enterprises  on contractual   for a specified  time period. As per Rules,  the terms of  different Directors could be extended under exceptional performance restricting the total number of terms of any Directors  upto two years.  Further as per rule,   Department  of Public Enterprises, on getting requisition from Energy Department  uses to  float Advertisement for recruitment of Functional Directors in any of the Power Sector Corporations six months before the completion of term of any of the Functional Director posted in OHPC.

3.  As  I know, the present Director (Operation) & Director (Finance) of the Corporation have completed their term as per their appointment order in the month of March & April 2019 respectively. The State Govt. has granted  both the Directors  an extension of term for six months each.  While Director, Finance has completed its term in September, 2019, Director, Operation is going  to complete  its term in October, 2019. 

4.  Prior  to completion of  the terms of  both the Directors, the State Govt. is required  to float advertisement  for  appointment  new  Directors  in the said post. But  it is seen that  the State  Govt. has not yet  floated  advertisement  for  the same, though  tenure of Director, Finance is already over. It  is apprehended  that   few coterie of officers  in the  Department  of Energy  and Public Enterprises   are  secretly working to avoid advertisement in order  to re-appoint   both the Directors  once again  by twisting Govt. rules  and regulations.  A big  conspiracy  has been hatched  by  a   group of officials  having vested  interest  to allow  both the  Directors  to continue in  OHPC .

5.   It  has come to  my  notice  from some  reliable  sources   that  due to incompetency  and inefficiency of Functional Directors, Hydro Power stations have  not yet been modernized  and old generators are still in operations.

6.    It  is expected  that  floating  of advertisement  for  these posts  will no doubt   invite  applications  of  new efficient experts and talented  persons  from the open market  which  will  not  only enforce  transparency but efficiency  in the management  of power  generation sector.

Keeping it  in view, I request  you   not  to  allow  your  officials  who are  hurry  in  granting  further extension of  tenure  of  both the  Directors  and issue  fresh advertisement  for  transparent appointment  in the post  of  Director of Finance  and Operation.

Thanking  you

Yours  sincerely

Pradip Pradhan

Plot No-D-27, Maitree  Vihar

Post-Rail Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha -751023

M-9937843482

Date-24.10.19

CC :     1.  Hon’ble Minister,Energy Deptt, Govt of Odisha

            2.  Hon’ble Minister,P E Deptt,Govt. of  Odisha

            3.  Chief Secretary, Govt of Odisha

            4.  Development Commissioner, Govt of Odisha

            5.  Secretary, Energy Deptt, Govt of Odisha

            6.  Secretary, PE Deptt, Govt of Odisha