Sundargarh: A Vigilance Court in Sundargarh convicted three officials from the Rourkela Development Authority (RDA) on corruption charges on Wednesday.
The former officials are Medisetti Seshadri, the retired ex-Secretary of RDA; Siva Charan Mohanty, the retired ex-Executive Engineer and PHD-cum-Engineering Member of RDA; and Manoj Kumar Dash, Legal Assistant at RDA. Previously, they were chargesheeted by the Vigilance under section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the PC Act, 1988/34 IPC for their alleged involvement in corruption.
Seshadri and Mohanty were convicted by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sundargarh for abusing their official power and showing undue official favour by violating the rules of the Government for pecuniary gain.
The court sentenced Mohanty to two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000; in case of non-payment, an additional three months of imprisonment for offences under section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the PC Act, 1988.
Similarly, Manoj Dash was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000; for non-payment, he faces an additional three months of imprisonment U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the PC Act, 1988/109 IPC.
As Medisetti Seshadri was absent at the sentencing hearing, a non-bailable warrant has been issued against him.
Following the convictions, Odisha Vigilance will now move to the competent authority to halt the pension of Siva Charan Mohanty and to dismiss Manoj Kumar Dash from service. The case was investigated by Bishnu Charan Dash, the former DSP of Vigilance, Sambalpur Division, and prosecuted by Shyam Sundar Mishra, Special P.P. of Vigilance, Sundargarh.
