3 held on charge of misappropriation of funds under MGNREGS

The anti-corruption vigilance wing of Odisha Police arrested three employees of horticulture department on charge of misappropriation of public money under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), official sources said.
The officials identified as Surendra Nath Dehury, Horticulture Overseer, Narottam Rogar, Assistant Horticulture Officer (Retired) and Sarat Chandra Pattnaik, Horticulture Extension Worker have been arrested.
They were remanded to judicial custody till January 2.
National Horticulture Mission, a centrally sponsored scheme was being implemented through MGNREGS in the state with an objective to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector.
Under the scheme, fruit plants like Mango, Litchi, Citrus, Cashew, Sapota, Guava and others are being planted by the Horticulture Department.

Basing on the allegation of misappropriation of huge amount of government money without doing Mango plantation work in the specified area and by preparing false records showing plantation in larger area in villages Ranipokhari and Balichua under Kaptipada Block of Mayurbhanj district, the vigilance wing undertook probe.
A case was registred against the three officials under different sections of the IPC.