Berhampur: The accountant of a non-governmental organization (NGO) was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly misappropriating over Rs 30 lakh from the organization between November 2025 and March 2026. The accused has been identified as Rajeeb Kumar Sethy (35), a resident of Golapalli Sahi.
Details of the Arrest
Krushna Saha, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Nimakhandi police station, stated on Thursday that several documents, including the annual report of the organization for 2024-25, registration certificate, PAN card, bank accounts, and other records, were seized for proper verification and inquiry.
Accused's Role and Modus Operandi
Rajeeb had been working as an accountant for the NGO for several years, responsible for maintaining daily transactions. The NGO has been operating in the social development, health, livelihood, and irrigation sectors in Mohona and Dharakote blocks in Gajapati and Ganjam districts, respectively, for the past 26 years. Its funding comes from both the Central government and foreign countries.
According to the police investigation, the accused dishonestly and fraudulently misappropriated the NGO's money for personal gain. He forged the signature of the organization's secretary on bank cheque books to withdraw funds from the bank accounts.
Discovery of the Fraud
The secretary, Nagendra Kumar Nandi (69) of Nilanchal Nagar, along with other members, questioned Rajeeb about discrepancies between expenditure and balance amounts. The accused failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.
Nagendra lodged a complaint against Rajeeb on Wednesday, suspecting misappropriation of funds through forged signatures. Police are conducting an inquiry to determine if any other individuals were involved in the crime.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are examining all seized documents to build a strong case. The police have assured that strict action will be taken against all those found guilty.
