Bhubaneswar, March 22: Debananda Sagar, the former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Podapadar and Talnegi grampanchayats in Kalahandi district, has been arrested by Vigilance officials for misappropriating government funds amounting to Rs 3.26 crores. The funds were siphoned from the 15th Finance Commission (CFC) and 5th State Finance Commission (SFC) accounts between 2018 and 2022.

Sagar, who joined as a PEO in 2016, allegedly forged the signature of the Sarpanch to transfer funds into his personal account at the State Bank of India, Dharamgarh Bazar Branch. Reports indicate that he used the embezzled money for online cricket betting through a portal named FAIRPLAY.

This is not Sagar’s first offense. In 2023, he was booked for misappropriating ₹1.04 crore while serving as PEO in three grampanchayats—Badachhatrang, Birikot, and Pahadpadar—under Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi. He was subsequently suspended for his involvement in financial irregularities.

The Odisha Vigilance has registered two more cases against Sagar. He will be presented before the Special Judge, Vigilance, in Bhawanipatna. Further investigations are underway, and a detailed report is expected soon.

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