Bhubaneswar: Vigilance sleuths Thursday arrested two private individuals and a staffer of CT & GST, Bhubaneswar, for alleged misappropriation of govt funds to the tune of Rs 4.03 crore through VAT refund fraud.
The arrested persons were identified as Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury, both private persons, and Abinash Pradhan, a staffer at CT & GST, Bhubaneswar. They were forwarded to the court of special judge, vigilance, Bhubaneswar, on Thursday.
“On the allegation of misappropriation of govt money by the officials of CT & GST, Bhubaneswar, by abusing their power for refund of VAT and disbursement of a sum of Rs 4,03,09,723 in favour of suspicious private persons, a vigilance enquiry was taken up,” a vigilance statement reads.
The vigilance stated that the private individuals impersonated the authorised person of a dealer, tampered with financial instruments, and entertained statutory forms that contained forged signatures and seals.
During the enquiry, it was revealed that Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury, in connivance with the officials of CT & GST, Bhubaneswar, siphoned off Rs 4.03 crore by filing forged and fabricated appeals on behalf of the original firm.
“Basing on the enquiry report, a criminal case was registered against Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury, and Abinash Pradhan, a staffer at CT & GST, Bhubaneswar, and others involved in misappropriating the govt funds,” it states.