India, March 22 -- In a major crackdown on financial irregularities, Odisha Vigilance has arrested Debananda Sagar, a former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Podapadar and Talnegi Gram Panchayats (GPs) under the Thuamul-Rampur Block in Kalahandi district, for allegedly embezzling government funds amounting to Rs 3.26 crore.

According to sources, Sagar, who was under suspension, misappropriated Rs 1,71,86,342 from the Talnegi GP and Rs 1,55,00,758 from the Podapadar GP by forging the signatures of the respective Sarpanchs. He exploited the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) to transfer funds from the 15th Central Finance Commission (CFC) and the 5th State Finance Commission (SFC) accounts of the GPs to his personal account at the...