Bhubaneswar, May 14 -- Odisha Vigilance has arrested five forest department officials for allegedly embezzling government funds amounting to Rs 80 lakh under the "Compensatory Afforestation Scheme" in the Kalahandi South Forest Division during the 2023-24 financial year.
According to sources from Odisha Vigilance, an enquiry was initiated based on credible inputs regarding large-scale misappropriation of government funds under the scheme in the Jaipatna Range of Kalahandi Sout Forest Division.
A verification of the plantations under the scheme was carried out by four teams comprising 25 officers from Odisha Vigilance. A thorough enumeration was conducted at several plantation sites within the Jaypatna Range.
The enumeration revealed sign...