Odisha Vigilance Nabs Panchayat Officials in Rs 22 Lakh Pension Scam

Puri: In a major crackdown on corruption in rural welfare schemes, Odisha Vigilance on Monday arrested two officials from Kanas Panchayat Samiti for allegedly embezzling Rs 21.98 lakh meant for pension disbursement.

The accused—Tuna Pradhan, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO), and Sagar Kumar Das, Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS)—are charged with siphoning off funds allocated under the Old Age Pension (OAP) and Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) schemes.

The scam reportedly spanned three fiscal years from 2022–23 to 2024–25, during which the duo failed to disburse pensions to eligible beneficiaries, instead diverting the money for personal gain.

A formal complaint led to their arrest and registration of Case No. 20/2025 under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The arrests have sparked concern over the integrity of grassroots governance and the vulnerability of welfare schemes meant for the elderly and widowed in Odisha’s rural belt.