Retired IAS Vinod Kumar convicted for the 10th time in corruption case

Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: Special Judge, Vigilance Court in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday convicted three high-profile individuals linked to a corruption case. The individuals found guilty include retired IAS officerVinod Kumar who was also the former Managing Director of the Orissa Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC); Purna Chandra Das, the former Executive Director, Technical, ORHDC; and Subash Chandra Panda, the State Coordinator of the NGO AWARE.

The court ruled that the trio was guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 and various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 and 120-B. They were implicated in the illegal sanction and disbursement of loans based on forged documents, bypassing essential security measures.

Each convict received a sentence of three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 25,000. This conviction marks the tenth case of corruption involving ORHDC officials, revealing a troubling trend of collusion between government officials and private individuals in misappropriating public funds. The case highlights the continued commitment of the Odisha Vigilance to combat corruption and ensure accountability in public service.