Odisha Vigilance nabs cooperative bank official for embezzling Rs 33.8 lakh meant for farmers’ welfare schemes

Odisha Vigilance on Saturday arrested a cooperative bank official for allegedly siphoning off Rs 33.80 lakh in government funds meant for agricultural and cooperative development programmes, uncovering a major case of financial misappropriation in the cooperative sector.

The accused, Patitapaban Majhi, former Executive Secretary of the Garhsantri Service Co-operative Society (SCS) under the Angul United Central Co-operative Bank (AUCCB), Banarpal Branch, was taken into custody following a detailed Vigilance investigation. He is currently posted as a Banking Assistant at the AUCCB headquarters in Angul.

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Vigilance officials said the fraud came to light during an inquiry into allegations of large-scale embezzlement of government funds. The investigation revealed that the irregularities were committed during the 2017-18 financial year, when Majhi was entrusted with managing daily cash collections and depositing government funds on behalf of the cooperative society.

The probe found that Majhi allegedly manipulated official records by making forged and fabricated entries in the society’s day books to conceal the diversion of funds. While the records falsely indicated that the cash had been properly accounted for and deposited, the corresponding amount of Rs 33,80,963 never reached the accounts of the Angul United Central Co-operative Bank.

According to Vigilance, the funds were intended for agriculture-related and cooperative development initiatives benefiting farmers and rural communities. Instead, the accused allegedly diverted the money for personal gain.

Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, Odisha Vigilance registered a case against Majhi under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The accused was later produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Angul, which remanded him in judicial custody.

The arrest is part of the Vigilance Department’s ongoing drive against corruption and financial misconduct in government-supported institutions and cooperative bodies.