Bhubaneswar, March 19: The Odisha Vigilance Department has arrested a bank officer for allegedly embezzling over ₹5.56 crore in collusion with his retired teacher father. The arrest occurred on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Maatriprasad Mohanty, who served as the branch manager of Jana Small Finance Bank in Bhadrak. The fraud was executed at the Block Education Officer (BEO) office in Jajpur district, resulting in a significant financial loss of ₹5,56,11,495.
According to a senior official from the Vigilance Department, the investigation revealed a well-planned conspiracy between Maatriprasad and his father, Pradeep Kumar Mohanty. Pradeep Kumar, a retired headmaster, had been reappointed at the BEO office.
During his reappointment, Pradeep Kumar allegedly infiltrated the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) without authorization, targeting the IDs of 13 retired teachers (pensioners). By manipulating government records, he falsely represented these retired employees as ‘active’ in service, generating and processing pension bills in their names each month.
Using this fraudulent method over an extended period, he siphoned off funds and transferred the money through various transactions. Ultimately, these funds were deposited into the bank accounts of him and his family members.
To obscure the money trail, these accounts were spread across different branches of the State Bank of India (SBI). This fraudulent activity reportedly spanned nearly six years, from November 2018 to September 2024.
After the fraud was uncovered, the education department referred the case to the Odisha Vigilance Department, which initiated an investigation leading to Maatriprasad’s arrest on Wednesday.
Investigators also discovered that a significant portion of the embezzled funds was transferred to Maatriprasad’s account. The police have launched a search operation to apprehend the main accused, Pradeep Kumar.
A case has been registered at the Cuttack Vigilance Police Station under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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