Bhubaneswar, 08 April (H.S.): In a major crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance has uncovered a financial scam exceeding Rs 2 crore at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kodala, located in Ganjam district.

According to official sources, a case was registered at the Berhampur Vigilance Police Station on April 8, 2026, following allegations that hospital staff had fraudulently prepared arrear salary bills and siphoned off government funds between 2023 and 2025.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused created fake arrear salary bills in the names of various employees by manipulating official records. The misappropriated amount has been provisionally estimated to exceed Rs 2 crore.

The case has been registered under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy. Charges have also been invoked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

So far, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. The accused include Jatin Kumar Bhuyan (Senior Assistant), Bharati Pradhan (MPHW), Gopal Nahak (Attendant), Manu Nayak (Sweeper), and Rama Chandra Mallika (Attendant, PHC Beguniapada).

All five accused were produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur, and have been remanded to judicial custody.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda