Ex-IAS officer Vinod Kumar gets 3-yr RI in ORHDC scam

Bhubaneswar: A Special Vigilance court in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday awarded three years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) to former IAS officer and ex-MD of Orissa Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC) Vinod Kumar on charges of corruption.

This is the fifth consecutive conviction of Vinod Kumar in corruption cases.

Along with Kumar, other accused persons namely Swostiranjan Mohapatra, Company Secretary, Satyaprakash Behera, Jr Loan Officer, Jnanendra Swain, Asst System Analyst  and Debadutta Ray, MD & Bibhuti Bhusan Swain, Partner of Bhumika Builders Pvt Ltd were also convicted.

Convicts Vinod Kumar, S. R. Mohapatra, S. P. Behera and J. Swain were sentenced by Special Judge Vigilance to undergo RI for 3 years and to pay fine of Rs 50,000 and in default further RI for six months on each of the offences.

Convicts Debadutta Ray and Bibhuti Bhusan Swain were sentenced to undergo RI for 3 years each and to pay fine of Rs 50,000 and in default to undergo RI for six months under section 420, 467,468,471, 120(B) IPC.

All the sentences are to run concurrently.

The case was investigated by ex DSP Vigilance Sarat Mohapatra and DP Tripathi. The case was prosecuted by Special Public Prosecutor of Odisha Vigilance Hemant K Swain.