Cuttack: Deputy Director of Fisheries under Vig Scanner for Misappropriation of Govt Funds

Cuttack: Basanta Kumar Dash, Deputy Director of Fisheries (Brackish Water) at office of Directorate of Fisheries, Cuttack has come under the scanner of Odisha Vigilance for allegedly misappropriation of government funds.

The Vigilance sleuths raided houses and office of Dash at five locations over the allegation.

“Based on the credible information received about misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs.1.05 crore by Basanta Kumar Dash, Deputy Director of Fisheries (Brackish Water), O/o Directorate of Fisheries, Cuttack by transferring money from Government account to his personal Bank Account during the financial year 2024-25, a Vigilance enquiry was taken up”, the Vigilance said in a statement.

During enquiry, it is revealed that Dash, being the Drawing &Dusbursing Officer (DDO), transfrerred a sum of Rs.1.05 crore from government account to his personal account being maintained at SBI, Puri, and withdrew and misappropriated the same.

During the course of investigation, simultaneous house searches are being conducted by Odisha Vigilance to unearth documents relating to the misappropriation of government money and investments made and assets acquired out of the misappropriated amount.

Five teams led by 5 DSPs, 4 Inspectors, 9 ASIs and other staff are engaged in the searches ongoing at the rented residential house of Dash located at Plot No.1426/4085, Sasana Padia, Keutasahi, Old Town, Mahatab Road, Bhubaneswar, his house located at Tota Mahavir Lane , Ward No.30, Puri, Farm House located at Pilipila, near Goruala, Dist-Puri, Native village located at Govindpur , Naikandihi, Bhadrak and Office chamber of Sri Basanta Kumar Dash at O/o Directorate of Fisheries, Odisha, Cuttack.

In this connection, Odisha Vigilance has registered case against Dash vide Vigilance Cell PS Case No 5/20.07.2024 U/s-13(2)r/w13(1)(a) P.C (Amendment) Act, 2018/409/420 IPC.