Sundargarh: The Court of the Learned Special Judge, Vigilance, Sundargarh on Friday convicted a former Panchayat Secretary in a corruption and misappropriation case registered by the Vigilance department more than two decades ago.

The convicted accused has been identified as Alexander Ekka (66), former Panchayat Secretary of Jodakudar Gram Panchayat under Lathikata Block in Sundargarh district. He is currently residing at Buchahanda village under Brahmanitarang police limits.

The conviction was pronounced in CTR Case No. 41/17 of 2004-16 arising out of Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 19 dated May 21, 2004.

Rs 42,777 Government cash and rice allegedly misappropriated

According to Vigilance officials, while serving as Panchayat Secretary, Ekka had been entrusted with cash and rice stock belonging to Jodakudar Gram Panchayat. During a surprise physical verification conducted by the Vigilance team on March 2, 2004, misappropriation of government property worth Rs 42,777.40 was allegedly detected, which the accused failed to account for.

The court convicted him under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said Special P.P. Vigilance, Sundargarh.

Court sentences ex-Panchayat official to two-and-a-half years jail

The court sentenced Ekka to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and six months and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 for each offence. In default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo an additional four months of rigorous imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently.

The court also directed that the period already undergone by the convict as an undertrial prisoner be set off under Section 428 of the CrPC. The accused was released on bail on Friday.

The case was investigated by Trinath Patel, former Inspector of Vigilance, Rourkela Unit. Special Public Prosecutor Shyam Sundar Mishra and Assistant Public Prosecutor Sandeep Panda represented the prosecution during the trial.