Bhubaneswar, Oct 28: The Odisha Vigilance Directorate has released a performance report covering the period June 12, 2024, to October 27, 2025, highlighting an extensive anti-corruption drive across the state.

Major highlights

302 criminal cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 303 persons, including 90 Class-I officers — among them one IAS officer, seven Chief Engineers, and several senior departmental officials.

Disproportionate Assets (DA) worth ₹212 crore were detected in 80 cases, with ₹9.2 crore in cash and 24 kg of gold seized.

136 trap cases resulted in 161 officials, including 144 government officers, being caught red-handed while accepting bribes totaling ₹35.62 lakh.

Major recoveries include ₹2.56 crore from Chief Engineer Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, ₹2.08 crore from Santanu Mohapatra (Deputy Director, Watershed, Malkangiri), and ₹57 lakh from IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, Sub-Collector, Dharamgarh.

Key disproportionate asset cases

Notable cases include:

• Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer, RW Dept., found with DA worth ₹9.08 crore (483% beyond income).
• Ashok Kumar Panda, Asst. Engineer, R&B, with DA of ₹8.53 crore (213%).
• Golap Chandra Hansdah, MVI, Boudh, with DA of ₹6.35 crore (630%).
• Rama Chandra Nepak, Dy. Ranger, Jeypore, with DA of ₹5.20 crore and ₹1.43 crore cash seized.
• Nityananda Nayak, DFO, Keonjhar, with DA of ₹4.81 crore.

Misappropriation of Public Funds

During the same period, 86 cases of misappropriation were registered involving ₹30.43 crore in government funds.

Key cases include:

• Debananda Sagar, ex-PEO, Kalahandi, for misappropriating ₹3.26 crore through fake transactions.
• Santanu Mohapatra, Deputy Director, Watershed, Malkangiri, for embezzling ₹49.9 lakh through false plantation bills.

Prosecution & conviction

• 132 convictions recorded, with an overall 50% conviction rate and 80% in DA cases.
• 30 officials dismissed from service and pensions of 68 retired officers stopped following conviction.
• 406 charge sheets filed against 834 accused persons, including 59 Class-I and 68 Class-II officers.

Training & preventive vigilance

The State Vigilance Academy trained 1,175 officers from IAS, IPS, OFS, and other services on anti-corruption laws and good governance practices.

Forest wing action

The Forest Vigilance Wing conducted 128 joint raids, seizing illegal timber, machinery, and vehicles worth ₹6.15 crore.

The Odisha Vigilance Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in public administration, vowing continued zero tolerance toward corruption in the state.