Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today strongly criticized the previous BJD government accusing corruption was rampant during its last 24 years rule.
While attending the state level observation of Vigilance Awareness Week, 2024 here, Shri Majhi said there was huge corruption in the 5T school transformation programme and construction of a world class hospital. The officers indulge in corrupt practices to be brought under the purview of investigation, he said.
Corruption has been rooted to the system during the last 24 years, which cannot be removed in just one month or one year. It takes a long time and all out effort, he said.
Drawing a comparison between cancer and corruption, Shri Majhi said his government has decided to remove corrupt officials from the system to provide clean governance to the people of the State. The government has started taking action in this direction, he added.
During the first 140 days of his governance, Shri Majhi said after BJP came to power in Odisha, the Vigilance Department swung into action. As many as six chief engineers, a joint commissioner of Excise Department, an assistant commissioner of CT&GST, a chief accounts officer of OSRTC, a deputy director of Fisheries department, a chief civil supplies officer, two tehsildars, two BDOs, one forest range officer, a jail superintendent, a doctor and seven police officers have so far been arrested on DA, bribery and government fund embezzlement charges, he pointed out.
The Chief Minister said the vigilance department, for the first time, has taken action against six chief engineer rank officers and they have been sent to jail for indulging in corruption and creating a huge amount of disproportionate assets.
The vigilance has seized 233 plots located in Bhubaneswar and other districts, 32 buildings/flat located in Bhubaneswar and other states, 6 kg gold ornaments, bank deposits of Rs 10 crore, and Rs 21 lakh cash from the six chief engineers, he pointed out.
“This is a trailer and the movie is yet to come. None will be spared. Our government is committed to zero tolerance towards corruption,” Shri Majhi said, cautioning dishonest people not to ignore his words.
The Chief Minister also said that his government is taking many steps to strengthen Odisha Vigilance by increasing technology, infrastructure and human resources.
He informed that 8 new additional SP posts and 24 new DSP posts will be created for Vigilance Department. These posts will play a vital role in the Vigilance Department’s investigations, monitoring and prosecution of corruption cases.
Further, 16 sub-inspectors will also be employed to assist in investigations and investigations. In addition, 24 chartered accountants and banking and cyber experts have also been approved for inclusion in the department in the coming days, he stated.
To increase the mobility of the Vigilance Team, 135 new motorcycles, 150 new desktops/laptops will be provided and a State Forensic Science Laboratory will be established within the Directorate.
Speaking at the event, Vigilance Director Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa said Odisha Vigilance has registered 88 criminal cases against 123 persons including 24 Class-I officers, 12 Class-II officers, 54 Class-III employees, 7 other public servants and 26 private persons.
He said 26 cases have been registered for acquisition of disproportionate assets against 29 public servants and 17 private persons including 15 Class-I officers, 6 Class-II officers, 6 Class-III employees, 2 other public servants and 17 private persons. The total disproportionate assets in all the 26 cases stand at Rs.77.28 Crore, he informed.
During the four months, 89 accused including 22 class-1 officers and 11 class-2 officers have been arrested and sent to judicial custody, he informed.
“We have focused on prosecution to get maximum conviction. In the last four month, 40 accused including six class-1 officers and five class-2 officers were convicted in 32 cases,” the Director Shri Jethwa said.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has asked all departments to adopt specific action plans to curb corruption in two months.