Khurda: An inquiry has been ordered by the district administration here after a video purportedly showing a Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) demanding money from a foreign returnee to allow him stay in a quarantine centre surfaced on social media.
The incident was reported from a quarantine center in Jaripada village panchayat under Chilika block of the district.
In the viral video, PEO Ajay Kumar Rayguru, who is the in-charge of the Jaripada quarantine facility, was seen demanding money from the foreign returnee for food and lodging at the centre for 16 days.
Raiguru reportedly demanded Rs 1920 from the returnee, Rs 120 per day as expenses for his stay at the quarantine centre. The returnee was also asked to pay Rs 1000 extra for using other facilities at the centre.
Taking note of the incident, the Khurda District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) project director, Diganta Routray has directed the additional project director to conduct a probe.
“The additional project director has been directed to conduct an investigation into the matter. The authenticity of the video will be verified. Accordingly, action will be taken on the basis of the probe report,” said Routray.
