Bhubaneswar, March 22 -- Odisha Vigilance on Saturday arrested a Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) on charges of misappropriation of government funds in cricket betting.

Debananda Sagar, currently under suspension, is a former PEO of Podapadar and Talnegi Gram Panchayats under Thuamul-Rampur Block in Kalahandi district.

He was arrested for allegedly embezzling government money to the tune of Rs.3.26 crore (Rs.1,71,86,342/- from Talnegi GP and Rs.1,55,00,758/- from Podapadar GP) under 15 CFC and 5th SFC accounts of the two GPs by abusing his official power and forging signature of Sarpanch of the above GPs through cheques and on-line transfer using P.F.M.S. (Public Finance Management System), to his personal account at S.B.I., Dharamga...