CUTTACK: The State Vigilance on Tuesday registered seven criminal cases against officials of the Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OPH&WC), Bhawanipatna Division for alleged misappropriation of more than Rs 1.5 crore in execution of different works in Kalahandi district.
On allegations of financial and technical irregularities to the tune of Rs 10 crore at Bhawanipatna Division, an inquiry and spot verification was conducted by the Vigilance and audit team of OPHWC Headquarters, Bhubaneswar.
During verification of M Rampur UGPC upgradation work, fake payment amounting to Rs 1,86,471 for labour was found. Besides, payment had allegedly been made without invoice, challan and receipt of materials in different projects by the former joint manager, Bhawanipatna Division and others, causing loss of Rs 23,68,588 to the Corporation.
Further joint physical verification by the special audit team and Vigilance detected deficit in materials at project sites of 15 Government quarters and offices amounting to Rs 22,92,509. Similarly, shortage of materials worth Rs 20,23,674 at project sites of 100-bed women’s hostel at Bhawanipatna, SDPO office-cum-residence at Kesinga, Golden Jubilee Hall at Bhawanipatna and nine residential quarters at Kesinga Fire Station was detected.
Similarly, shortage of materials worth Rs 51,21,585 was detected at the project sites of SDJM Building, Patnagarh; police station building, Fire Station building, additional fortification of Khaprakhol police station in Balangir and 100 men barrack at Tureikela outpost.
Similar irregularities to the tune of Rs 38,62,932 were traced at different projects at Titlagarh, Luisingha, Harishankar, Saintala and Gudavela. So far, misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 1,56,69,288 has been detected and seven separate cases were registered on Tuesday.