Former PEO arrested for embezzling Rs 3.26cr for cricket betting | Bhubaneswar News
Koraput: Vigilance sleuths on Saturday arrested a suspended panchayat executive officer (PEO) for embezzling over Rs 3.26 crore of govt funds for cricket betting.
The accused, Debananda Sagar, former PEO of Podapadar and Talnegi gram panchayats under Thuamul-Rampur block in Kalahandi district, was produced before the court of special judge, vigilance in Bhawanipatna on Saturday.
The arrest comes a day after Khetramohan Nayak, PEO of Radhadeipur panchayat in Ganjam district, was arrested on Friday for allegedly misappropriating over Rs 43 lakh of govt money for online cricket betting and gaming.
According to the vigilance directorate’s release, Sagar misappropriated Rs 1.71 crore from Talnegi GP and Rs 1.55 crore from Podapadar GP by exploiting his official position. “Sagar forged the signatures of the respective sarpanches and siphoned off the funds using the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) to transfer the money into his personal account,” the release said.
According to the release, Sagar began his career as a PEO on July 4, 2016, and was posted in both Talnegi and Podapadar GPs. The misappropriation reportedly occurred between May 5, 2018, and March 17, 2022. During this period, Sagar diverted the stolen funds into online cricket betting platforms.
“The arrest follows a previous case from 2023, where Sagar faced similar charges for embezzling Rs 1.04 crore from three GPs — Badachhatrang, Birikot and Pahadpadar — under Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district. He was suspended following those allegations,” said SP (vigilance), Pradyumna Kumar Dwivedi.
“Based on further investigation, two additional cases were registered against Sagar under Koraput vigilance division on March 21, 2025, invoking sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing and more details are awaited,” the SP added.
The accused, Debananda Sagar, former PEO of Podapadar and Talnegi gram panchayats under Thuamul-Rampur block in Kalahandi district, was produced before the court of special judge, vigilance in Bhawanipatna on Saturday.
The arrest comes a day after Khetramohan Nayak, PEO of Radhadeipur panchayat in Ganjam district, was arrested on Friday for allegedly misappropriating over Rs 43 lakh of govt money for online cricket betting and gaming.
According to the vigilance directorate’s release, Sagar misappropriated Rs 1.71 crore from Talnegi GP and Rs 1.55 crore from Podapadar GP by exploiting his official position. “Sagar forged the signatures of the respective sarpanches and siphoned off the funds using the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) to transfer the money into his personal account,” the release said.
According to the release, Sagar began his career as a PEO on July 4, 2016, and was posted in both Talnegi and Podapadar GPs. The misappropriation reportedly occurred between May 5, 2018, and March 17, 2022. During this period, Sagar diverted the stolen funds into online cricket betting platforms.
“The arrest follows a previous case from 2023, where Sagar faced similar charges for embezzling Rs 1.04 crore from three GPs — Badachhatrang, Birikot and Pahadpadar — under Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district. He was suspended following those allegations,” said SP (vigilance), Pradyumna Kumar Dwivedi.
“Based on further investigation, two additional cases were registered against Sagar under Koraput vigilance division on March 21, 2025, invoking sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing and more details are awaited,” the SP added.
