Sunabeda Wildlife Division Senior Assistant arrested for embezzling Rs 2.6 Crore

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Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown against corruption, Odisha Vigilance on Saturday arrested a Senior Assistant of the DFO, Sunabeda Wildlife Division for allegedly embezzling government funds over Rs 2.60 crore since 2023.

The accused DFO is Babulu Suna,Sr Assistant-cum-In-Charge, Establishment Section, Office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sunabeda Wildlife Division, Nuapada. ​Suna, who had been absconding for the past six months, was nabbed by Odisha Vigilance in Balangir last night. He is being forwarded to the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna.

On the alleged misappropriation of Govt funds over Rs.2.60 Crores, a thorough verification was taken up by Odisha Vigilance.

According to Vigilance, Suna utilized his position as In-Charge of the Establishment Section to execute fraudulent transactions. The DFO was arrested for embezzling government funds by creating false arrear bills under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) and Revised Assured Career Progression (RACP) schemes.

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The fraudulent bills were processed using the credentials and identities of former, retired and deceased employees of the Sunabeda Wildlife Division to siphon off public funds into private bank accounts of his family members — including his spouse, brother, sister and two close associates.

He also manipulated official records to enhance his own periodical salary increments beyond legitimate entitlements. He had generated excess monthly salary bills over a sustained period, wrongfully drawing an additional sum of over Rs 10.58 lakh. In total, he was found to have misappropriated Rs 2,60,21,306.

In this connection, Koraput Vigilance PS Case No 24 & 25/2026 under Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections of BNS has been registered against the accused. Investigation is underway.

Also Read: Jajpur: Odisha Vigilance Raids 7 Locations Linked to AEE Tapan Sethi in DA Case, Watch

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