Baripada, Sept 11: The Odisha Vigilance Department has intercepted two auditors of the ST&SC Development Department of the Odisha Government and seized a total of ₹14.38 lakh in suspected ill-gotten cash from their possession and hotel rooms in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district.

The deceased auditors have been identified as Prasanta Kumar Pradhan and Pragyan Prakash Patra.

Acting on credible information, a Vigilance team intercepted the duo late on September 10 while they were travelling from the District Welfare Officer (DWO) office in Baripada to their place of stay at Mohapatra Hotel in Roxy Lane in the official Scorpio vehicle of the DWO after completing audit work.

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During the interception, Vigilance officials reportedly found ₹5,51,510 in cash, kept in 52 envelopes and 20 loose bundles. The auditors allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the cash.

Two auditors of Odisha’s ST&SC Development Department were intercepted in Baripada after Vigilance officials allegedly found ₹14.38 lakh in suspected ill-gotten cash.

-₹5.51 lakh recovered during interception
-₹8.86 lakh seized from their hotel rooms
-Searches underway from a… pic.twitter.com/Vd0nie4DHZ

— Prameya English (@PrameyaEnglish) September 11, 2026

Following the interception, Vigilance officials conducted searches at their hotel rooms. During the search, an additional ₹8,86,830 was reportedly recovered and seized.

With the total recovery amounting to ₹14,38,340, the cash has been seized for further investigation. The two auditors are being questioned to ascertain the source of the money.

According to Vigilance officials, the auditors had been staying in Baripada since August 30, 2026, for an audit of the DWO office.

During their assignment, they reportedly conducted audits of Ashram schools, Sevashram schools, high schools, higher secondary schools and SSD hostels under the ST&SC Development Department. School headmasters and hostel in-charges had allegedly been directed to appear in Baripada with relevant files and registers.

Vigilance authorities had reportedly received allegations that the auditors were demanding ₹10 per enrolled student as bribe from school and hostel authorities for ensuring a smooth audit process.

The allegations were subsequently verified by the Vigilance team, following which the auditors were intercepted, officials said.

Following the interception and cash recovery, Vigilance officials have launched searches at locations linked to the two auditors as part of the investigation from a disproportionate assets (DA) angle.

The authorities are continuing their searches and questioning to establish the source of the seized cash and determine whether it is linked to the alleged demand for bribes.

Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.