Odisha Vigilance Withholds Pension of Convicted Tax Officer in Landmark Anti-Corruption Move

In a decisive move to uphold integrity in public service, the Odisha Vigilance Directorate has permanently withheld the pensionary benefits of Ramesh Chandra Behera, a former Assistant Commercial Tax Officer posted at the Unified Check Gate in Chikiti, Ganjam district.

Behera was convicted under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, and Section 109 of the IPC for possessing disproportionate assets during his tenure.

The Special Judge (Vigilance), Berhampur, sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a monetary fine.

Following the conviction, the Vigilance Directorate recommended disciplinary action to the competent authority.

Acting under the Odisha Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1992, the authority ordered the full and permanent withholding of Behera’s pension benefits.

This rare enforcement step signals the state’s firm stance against corruption and reinforces the Vigilance Directorate’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.