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Odisha Vigilance corruption investigations

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2026-10-23 02:03 UTC → 2026-10-25 10:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Odisha Vigilance Department has expanded its anti-corruption operations, resulting in several high-profile arrests and the seizure of significant cash amounts. In Rourkela, Excise Superintendent Dhaneswar Barad was arrested after officials intercepted a vehicle carrying Rs 5 lakh in cash. Subsequent searches uncovered assets, including a double-storeyed building and bank deposits totaling approximately Rs 33.97 lakh, which authorities estimate are “100% in excess of his known income”. In Ganjam district, Assistant Sub-Inspector Sujit Panigrahi was apprehended while allegedly accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe. In Mayurbhanj, auditors Prasanta Kumar Pradhan and Pragyan Prakash Patra were arrested following the seizure of approximately Rs 14.43 lakh in cash. Investigations into a Rs 9.24 crore embezzlement scheme within the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Roads and Buildings (R&B) Division-I in Bhubaneswar led to the arrest of several individuals, including peons Dipak Kumar Routray and Laxman Biswal, and private data entry operators Rajib Lochan Senapati and Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, who allegedly colluded with Section Officer Banalata Mohanty and Junior Assistant Bibhudutta Nayak. The group used the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to process fake sanction orders and bills, routing funds through 77 bank accounts. Recent operations have increasingly targeted engineers. Assistant Executive Engineer Anupama Sahoo of the Kendrapada Drainage Division was caught with Rs 7.15 lakh in cash. Assistant Executive Engineer Tapan Sethi of the Jajpur R&B Sub-Division was also targeted in raids uncovering a triple-storey mansion, multiple buildings, and 550 grams of gold jewellery. Furthermore, raids on Executive Engineer Arabinda Mohanty of the Betanoti R&B Sub-Division revealed high-value properties, including a triple-storey building and a five-acre farmhouse. Newer enforcement actions include the arrest of Assistant Executive Engineer Shishir Kumar Dash for allegedly possessing assets 160 per cent higher than his known income, with searches uncovering a four-storey building and significant cash.

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