Bhubaneswar, Dec. 16 -- Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday arrested Ratnesh Kumar Pandey, Junior Engineer (JE) of Pattamundai Block in Kendrapara district, on charges of financial fraud and embezzlement of government funds.

According to sources, Pandey was arrested on December 16 in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds under an electrification project for street lights in Pattamundai Block during the 2023-24 financial year. The accused allegedly diverted government funds without executing the sanctioned work.

During the course of the investigation, Vigilance officials found that Gram Panchayat development funds were misappropriated and transferred to Pandey's personal bank account maintained at the State Bank of India, Pipili ...