📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Joydeep Chakraborty
Crime
Odisha Vigilance Nabs Three Panchayat Officials in Rs 16.76 Lakh Pension Fraud in Baleshwar
✍️ Pragativadi
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 03:18 PM
👁 17
The Odisha Vigilance Department has arrested three local panchayat officials for allegedly siphoning Rs 16.76 lakh meant for pension payments in Baleshwar district.
The Odisha Vigilance Department announced on Tuesday that it has taken into custody three officials from the Baleshwar district panchayat. The arrests were made following a raid on the officials' residences and offices, where investigators said they uncovered evidence of financial irregularities.
According to the department, the three officials were involved in a scheme that diverted Rs 16.76 lakh earmarked for pension disbursements to eligible beneficiaries. The money, intended for retired government employees, was allegedly siphoned off through falsified records and unauthorized withdrawals.
Vigilance officials stated that the case is being treated as a serious breach of public trust and that the accused will face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant pension regulations. They added that a detailed audit of the district's pension accounts is underway to determine the full extent of the loss.
Local administration in Baleshwar has expressed concern over the incident, urging swift legal action and reinforcing internal controls to prevent similar frauds in the future. The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests may be made if additional evidence emerges.
According to the department, the three officials were involved in a scheme that diverted Rs 16.76 lakh earmarked for pension disbursements to eligible beneficiaries. The money, intended for retired government employees, was allegedly siphoned off through falsified records and unauthorized withdrawals.
Vigilance officials stated that the case is being treated as a serious breach of public trust and that the accused will face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant pension regulations. They added that a detailed audit of the district's pension accounts is underway to determine the full extent of the loss.
Local administration in Baleshwar has expressed concern over the incident, urging swift legal action and reinforcing internal controls to prevent similar frauds in the future. The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests may be made if additional evidence emerges.