Bhubaneswar, July 24: The Vigilance officials seized a country-made firearm during a raid at the residence of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Executive Engineer, Jagannath Pattnaik. The operation has also unearthed assets grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income, triggering a wider investigation.
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According to sources, the ongoing search has revealed a staggering list of properties and valuables, including a multi-storey building in Bhubaneswar, a farmhouse in Ranpur under Balianta Tehsil, a two-storey house, a pond, a poultry farm, and three high-value plots located in Badagada and Khandagiri.
The vigilance team has also recovered around 200 grams of gold jewellery, substantial bank deposits, a luxury car, and a premium motorcycle. In a surprising find, antlers (deer horns) were also seized from the premises, raising further legal concerns regarding wildlife protection laws.
Officials confirmed that the raid is still in progress, and more assets may come to light in the coming hours. The discovery of an illegal firearm and such vast unaccounted wealth has raised serious questions about corruption and misuse of power within the municipal administration.
Further investigation is underway to verify the sources of the seized assets and determine whether legal action will be taken under the Arms Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.
