Bhubaneswar, May 30: In a significant development on Friday, officials from Odisha Vigilance unearthed over Rs 2 crore in cash from the residences of Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, the Chief Engineer of the Rural Works (RW) Department, during raids conducted in Bhubaneswar and Angul.
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Approximately Rs 1 crore was recovered from Sarangi’s flat in PDN Exotica, Bhubaneswar, while another Rs 1.1 crore was seized from his residence in Angul, bringing the total cash seized to Rs 2.1 crore.
In a dramatic turn of events, Sarangi attempted to dispose of bundles of Rs 500 notes by throwing them out of his flat window upon spotting the Vigilance officials. However, the thrown cash was later recovered by the search team in the presence of witnesses.
The Odisha Vigilance is investigating Sarangi on charges of possessing disproportionate assets (DA), which are believed to be far beyond his known sources of income.
Simultaneous raids are being conducted at seven locations in Angul, Bhubaneswar, and Pipili (Puri), led by a team comprising eight Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), 12 Inspectors, six Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), and additional supporting staff. The raids are based on search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Angul.
The locations being searched include:
- A double-storey residential house at Karadagadia, Angul.
- Flat No. C-102 in PDN Exotica, Dumduma, Bhubaneswar.
- A flat at Siula, PS-Pipili, Dist-Puri.
- The house of a relative at Sikshyakapada, PS/Dist-Angul.
- His paternal house at Vill-Lokeipasi, Tahasil/Dist-Angul.
- A double-storey paternal building at Matiasahi, PS/Dist-Angul.
- His office chamber at the Chief Engineer’s office, RD Planning and Roads, Bhubaneswar.
