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ଓଡ଼ିଆ | ENGLISH
ଓଡ଼ିଆ | ENGLISH

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Published By : Pradip Subudhi
atm-looter-arrested-in-ganjam

Bhubaneswar, December 31: Odisha Vigilance has registered 202 criminal cases and arrested 212 government officers and other individuals in 2025. These cases largely involve accusations of bribery, misappropriation of government funds, and possession of disproportionate assets.

Key Highlights of 2025 Vigilance Actions:

  • Officials Under Scrutiny: The vigilance has taken action against 53 Class-I officers, including one IAS officer, 36 engineers (one Chief Engineer, two Superintending Engineers), 17 forest officials (including two DFOs), 20 revenue officials (including six Tahasildars), and other government employees. This includes officials from sectors like police, health, transport, education, and more.
  • Cases of Disproportionate Assets (DA): Odisha Vigilance has registered 49 DA cases, uncovering assets worth approximately Rs. 120 crore.
  • Bribery and Misappropriation: The Vigilance conducted 97 trap operations, arresting 114 people, including 105 government officers, who were involved in bribery. The total amount seized from these cases amounted to Rs. 26.27 lakh.
  • Seizures and Recoveries: The vigilance's actions have led to the seizure of significant assets in 2025, including 153 buildings, 18.3 kg of gold, 714 plots, 12 farmhouses, Rs. 36.69 crore in deposits, and Rs. 8.81 crore in cash.

Major Cash Recoveries in 2025:

  • Sri Dhiman Chakma, IAS: Rs. 57 lakh, including Rs. 10 lakh in bribe money and Rs. 47 lakh found during a search at his government quarter in Dharamgarh, Kalahandi.
  • Sri Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer: Rs. 2.56 crore seized during searches in Bhubaneswar.
  • Sri Santanu Mohapatra, DD & PD, Watershed, Malkangiri: Rs. 2.08 crore seized.
  • Sri Rama Chandra Nepak, Deputy Ranger, Koraput: Rs. 1.43 crore seized.
  • Sri Jitendra Kumar Panda, Additional Tahasildar, Cuttack: Rs. 73.66 lakh seized.

Investigative Actions:

  • Searches: A total of 487 locations were searched in connection with DA and trap cases.
  • Bank Account Freezes: 1199 bank accounts of corrupt officials were frozen.
  • Asset Evaluation: 246 buildings and flats were evaluated in 119 cases, with an estimated value of Rs. 51.38 crore.

These actions demonstrate Odisha Vigilance's ongoing commitment to tackling corruption and holding public servants accountable for misconduct.