Bhubaneswar: The Special Vigilance Court in Bhubaneswar today convicted Cuttack-Barabati Congress MLA and three others in Odisha Rural Housing & Development Corporation (ORHDC) corruption case.
The court has convicted ORHDC Ex-Managing Director of Vinod Kumar (IAS), Swasti Ranjan Mohapatra, Ex-Company Secretary ORHDC, Md. Moquim, Managing Director, M/s Metro Builders Pvt. Ltd and Peeyusdhari Mohanty, Director, Metro Builders Pvt. Ltd.
The four accused were charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance in Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No.7 dtd.30.03.2005 U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and U/s 120-B/468/471/420 IPC for showing undue official favour, criminal misconduct, forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy and obtaining pecuniary advantage to M/s. Metro Builders Pvt. Ltd. by releasing funds in the guise of loans meant for the rural poor.
The convicts— Vinod Kumar, Ex MD and Swasti Ranjan Mohapatra, Ex-Company Secretary were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 3 years and to pay a fine of Rs.50,000 each. In default of payment of fine, the convicts shall undergo further rigorous imprisonment for a period of 6 months on each count for the offence, the court ruled.
The convicts— Md. Moquim, Managing Director and Peeyusdhari Mohanty, Director, Metro Builders were also sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 3 years and to pay a fine of Rs.50,000 each. In default of payment of the fine, the convicts shall undergo further rigorous imprisonment for a period of 6 months on each count for the offence U/s 120-B/468/471/420 IPC. All the sentences are to run concurrently, the court said in its ruling.
Vigilance Ex-DSP Cell Cuttack Abhiram Kar investigated the case and Hemanta Kumar Swain, Special Public Prosecutor Vigilance, Bhubaneswar conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution.
