Odisha Vigilance Arrests Fugitive Senior Revenue Assistant for Embezzlement

Bhubaneswar, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : The Odisha Vigilance made a significant breakthrough on Thursday by apprehending a Senior Revenue Assistant (SRA) who had been on the run. Shashikant Rana, the accused, is charged with embezzling over ₹3.03 crore in government funds in the state’s Angul district.

Rana, who hails from the Derabish block in Kendrapara district, had been evading capture since the revelation of the financial misconduct. Investigators eventually located him in Angul through digital tracking and arrested him late Wednesday night.

On Thursday, Rana was presented before a special vigilance judge in Cuttack. Following the allegations of embezzlement, the Odisha Vigilance initiated an in-depth investigation into the case.

The agency reported that Rana systematically misappropriated government funds while overseeing the establishment section during two consecutive postings. His responsibilities included managing salaries, arrears, and pensions.

During his tenure in Rajkanika and Derabish blocks, Rana allegedly embezzled ₹1,46,68,118 and ₹1,56,97,725, respectively, totaling ₹3,03,65,843.

The investigation revealed that Rana manipulated payment records by filing fraudulent claims for salaries, arrears, gratuities, unused leave, and pensions in the names of retired and deceased employees on the HRMS portal. He transferred the funds illegally into the bank accounts of his family members and relatives instead of the rightful beneficiaries.

The agency noted that Rana altered bank account details, replacing them with those of his wife, father, brother, and a relative, using accounts at SBI, Bank of India, and Indian Bank in Kendrapara. The funds were transferred via NEFT.

Two cases against Rana have been registered at the Cuttack Vigilance Police Station under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and the Indian Penal Code.