Soumya Ranjan Kheti, former principal of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya (OAV) in Binika, Subarnapur district, was arrested on September 22, 2025, for allegedly misappropriating ₹55.02 lakh from government funds designated for the Mid-Day Meal scheme, Mo School Abhijan, and Girls’ Hostel contingency between 2021 and 2025.
Kheti admitted to squandering nearly ₹11 lakh on online betting through the ‘Teenpatti’ app. The Odisha Vigilance registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and investigations are ongoing to trace the full extent of the fraud and involvement of others.
Misuse of Welfare Funds for Gambling
During his tenure since September 29, 2021, Kheti exploited his official position as principal to divert funds intended for crucial child welfare and education schemes. The ₹55 lakh misappropriated included monies from the Mid-Day Meal scheme, which plays a key role in ensuring nutritional support for schoolchildren, Mo School Abhijan aimed at school development, and the Girls’ Hostel Fund meant to support girl students’ accommodation.
Shockingly, Kheti confessed in interrogation that about ₹11 lakh of this money was funneled into online betting, specifically using the ‘Teenpatti’ gambling app – a startling revelation pointing towards deep financial recklessness and betrayal of public trust. The Odisha Vigilance described the crime as a grave breach impacting vulnerable students who depend on government aid for basic needs.
Probe and Arrest Details
The financial irregularities drew attention after intelligence inputs alerted authorities, leading to an internal audit. The Odisha Vigilance registered the case at Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 19/2025) under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, along with provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Following a detailed probe into the school’s accounts, investigators established that Kheti had abused his position to siphon off public funds over multiple financial years. Upon gathering sufficient evidence, officials arrested Kheti on September 22. He remains in custody undergoing interrogation to uncover the full money trail, check for possible accomplices, and determine if embezzled funds were used to acquire assets or for other illicit purposes.
Wider Context and Recent Corruption Trends
Kheti’s arrest is part of a rising trend of government employees being apprehended for embezzling funds and diverting them into online betting platforms. In the past six months, at least two other government functionaries, including Panchayat Executive Officers in Odisha, were arrested for similar financial crimes. This pattern reveals growing misuse of public funds through digital gambling, raising urgent concerns among authorities and citizens alike.
In parallel actions, Odisha Vigilance also detained two Panchayat officials in Puri district for alleged misappropriation of nearly ₹22 lakh intended for old age pension and pension schemes, showcasing a broader crackdown on corruption in public welfare.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The betrayal of trust by an individual tasked with nurturing children’s education and welfare is not just a criminal offence but a moral failure affecting the most vulnerable sections of society. This case exposes systemic weaknesses in oversight and accountability mechanisms governing public funds, particularly those meant for social welfare schemes.
The prompt vigilance actions are necessary and commendable, but systemic reforms and transparent, robust monitoring systems must be prioritised to prevent repetition. Such incidents damage not only resources but also public faith in government programmes.
