Bhubaneswar: A Special Vigilance Court in Bhubaneswar on Friday convicted former IAS officer Vinod Kumar, ex-Managing Director of the Odisha Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC), along with five other individuals in a major housing scam case.
The convicted officials were found guilty of misusing ₹52.95 lakh of government funds intended for rural housing schemes for the poor, the Vigilance Department said in an official statement.
Rigorous Imprisonment for Misappropriation of Funds
The court sentenced each of the six convicts to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The ex-officials were found to have abused their positions of power and shown undue favor to a private builder, Sangram Keshari Sahoo, by creating fake and forged documents to facilitate financial irregularities.
All six individuals were charge-sheeted under multiple sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) for misappropriating public funds.
Vinod Kumar’s Long History of Corruption Cases
Vinod Kumar, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was dismissed from service in 2022 on charges of corruption. During his tenure as ORHDC Managing Director in 1999, he allegedly sanctioned ₹33.34 crore in housing funds through unfair means when rural housing projects were undertaken on a large scale following the Super Cyclone, which had devastated the state and claimed thousands of lives.
He was also accused of granting loans to real estate firms, contractors, and NGOs without proper verification of house construction or reconstruction, raising serious questions about accountability in post-disaster relief projects.
This conviction marks Kumar’s 12th conviction in corruption-related cases linked to ORHDC, with 15 other vigilance cases still pending against him. Earlier, in 2018, the Special Vigilance Court had convicted him for financial irregularities in the ORHDC and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment.
Impact on Odisha’s Rural Housing Programs
The scam highlights the systemic risks of corruption in government housing schemes, especially those meant for the welfare of the rural poor. Misappropriation of funds not only delayed critical housing projects but also undermined public trust in post-disaster reconstruction efforts.
The Vigilance Department stated that the convictions serve as a warning against abuse of official power and emphasize the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public service.
Builder and Co-Conspirators Also Held Accountable
Alongside the ex-officials, builder Sangram Keshari Sahoo and others involved in document forgery and financial irregularities were also convicted by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar. Their involvement underscores the collusion between private entities and corrupt officials in siphoning off public funds meant for social welfare.
State Vigilance Record
Vinod Kumar’s conviction adds to the string of 12 convictions out of 27 vigilance cases filed against him, showcasing persistent efforts by the Odisha Vigilance Department to bring corrupt officials to justice. Authorities emphasized that strict monitoring, audits, and legal actions are critical to preventing misuse of public resources in developmental programs.
