Synopsis
On February 8, the Odisha Vigilance apprehended Santanu Mohapatra, a deputy director in Malkangiri, for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets. His associates were also arrested for facilitating this corruption, revealing a significant case of embezzlement involving government funds.Key Takeaways
- Santanu Mohapatra arrested for disproportionate assets.
- Four associates detained for aiding asset accumulation.
- Evidence of over Rs 2 crore recovered during searches.
- Investigation into government fund misappropriation ongoing.
- Largest cash seizure in Odisha Vigilance history.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 8 (NationPress) The Odisha Vigilance apprehended Santanu Mohapatra, the deputy director and project director of a watershed in Malkangiri district, on allegations of accumulating disproportionate assets amounting to 414 percent of his acknowledged income sources, according to officials.
The Vigilance sources disclosed that four of Mohapatra's associates were also taken into custody for facilitating his property accumulation, valued in crores.
The detained associates include Mohan Mandal, an Assistant Agriculture Engineer; Biswajit Mandal, a Data Entry Operator (DEO); and Amiyakanta Sahu, a Contractual Staff from the PD Watershed office in Malkangiri.
Furthermore, the Vigilance officials arrested Alekh Pradhan, who runs a Jan Seva Kendra at Jagannath Prasad in Ganjam district, as part of the anti-corruption operation.
During the inquiry, it was discovered that Pradhan functioned as a middleman for Mohapatra in collecting bribes.
Pradhan was reported to have gathered bribes online from contractors and others on behalf of Mohapatra, subsequently transferring the funds to his account.
Evidence collected by the Vigilance officers revealed that Pradhan had facilitated transfers exceeding Rs 1 crore from 2019 to 2024.
According to a senior Vigilance official, "Mohapatra and his team are suspected of embezzling government funds by fabricating work completion reports and executing payments to labor accounts, which were then withdrawn and misappropriated. Numerous laborers' passbooks were retrieved from DEO Biswajit Mandal and Amiyakanta Sahu's residences during the searches."
The police suspect that the accused were operating the laborers' bank accounts to facilitate the withdrawal and misappropriation of government funds.
An independent inquiry has been initiated, and documents pertaining to work claimed as completed over the last two years have been summoned for examination.
Significantly, the Vigilance Department conducted simultaneous searches at seven properties linked to Mohapatra in Malkangiri, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar, which spanned three days.
Following the searches, police discovered that Mohapatra and his family owned a triple-storey residential building in Jeypore, four valuable land plots in prime areas of Bhubaneswar and Jeypore, gold jewelry weighing 422.44 gm, and bank and insurance assets totaling Rs 91,10,306, alongside a four-wheeler, two two-wheelers, and household items exceeding Rs 29.08 lakh.
In addition, officers seized cash amounting to Rs 2,08,92,850 during the property searches associated with Mohapatra and his accomplices.
This incident marks one of the largest cash recoveries in the history of the State Vigilance.
