Odisha Vigilance arrests forest official for ₹2.60 crore embezzlement

Odisha Vigilance has arrested Babulu Suna, a senior assistant at the Sunabeda Wildlife Division's Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, for allegedly embezzling over ₹2.60 crore in government funds since 2023.

Suna, who had been absconding for six months, was apprehended in Bolangir. Investigations revealed that he exploited his position to create fraudulent arrear bills under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) and Revised Assured Career Progression (RACP) schemes. He reportedly used the identities of former, retired, and deceased employees to siphon public funds into the bank accounts of his spouse, brother, sister, and two associates.

Additionally, Suna is accused of tampering with official records to inflate his own salary increments, wrongfully drawing more than ₹10.58 lakh. He faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).