Bhubaneswar, Nov. 27 -- A Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) in Balasore district has partially returned siphoned pension money to beneficiaries after he was caught allegedly forging thumb impressions to withdraw their dues.

Reportedly, the accused officer, Gautam Sethi of Kunduli Panchayat under Baliapal block, refunded the amount along with interest when Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi confronted him publicly, before ordering an investigation into pension disbursement across the entire panchayat.

According to sources, the repayment came after prolonged complaints from villagers that pension money was not reaching them despite regular eligibility. MP Sarangi said he ensured money was counted and returned on the spot, with the PEO accepting h...