Bhubaneswar: Creating a new record, Odisha Vigilance has unearthed disproportionate assets worth Rs 160 crore including seizure of Rs 7 crore cash from top four cases during 2022, so far.
Speaking to media persons, Director Vigilance Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa said the Odisha Vigilance, so far, has registered 270 cases, of which 75 are DA cases, 114 trap cases and rest other corruption cases. Of the 270 cases, nearly 60 cases registered against class I officers, which is the highest in the last 5 years.
“As far as cash seizures are concerned, we have had record seizures in 2022. The top 4 cash seizures in DA searches in the history of Odisha vigilance have happened in 2022 with seizure of Rs.7 crores,” he said.
A total cash seizure Rs 3. 41 crore seized from Kartikeswar Raul, assistant engineer, MI, Bhanjanagar, Ganjam in April while Rs 1. 40 crore seized from Ashish Kumar Das, SE, RW Division, Malkangiri in March this year.
Similarly, Rs 1.13 crore was seized by the Odisha Vigilance during house searches against Dr.Sukant Jena, Gynecologist, Charichhaka CHC in February. Moreover, Rs 1.06 crore seized from Gaya Santara, deputy manager, IDCOL yesterday.
In trap cases also, the highest cash seizure in the history of Odisha vigilance has happened in this year, Shri Jethwa stated.
“Last year we had detected and registered the highest number of DA cases in the country and this year too we hope for a similar performance,” the Director Vigilance told Media.
As far as prosecution is concerned, 87 convictions have been reported in this year so far with about 50 percent conviction rate. The vigilance has also prioritized completion of investigations and submissions of charge sheets especially in old cases. Investigations in all trap cases of 2021 and earlier have been completed, he informed.
Further, the Vigilance Director said the vigilance is committed to take strong actions against corrupt practices with focus on higher ranks.
“We also plan to better our performance through enhanced application of technology in detection and investigation, more effective tracking of databases related to accumulation of assets, both physical and digital, be it land, buildings, currency, deposits or even crypto assets, to identify DA and take action as per law under the PC Act,” added Shri Jethwa.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption wing of Odisha Government has arrested Gaya Santara, a deputy manager, Idcol, Ampa Valli Limestone Mines, Simagoda, Koraput on a DA case. Gaya was found in possession of disproportionate assets worth over Rs.10 crore.
During raid, the vigilance has found bank deposits worth Rs.4.44 crore, Rs. 1.06 crore cash, 1kg 96 gm gold, silver-7 kg 500 gm, two multi-storied buildings, 13 plots in important locations and two four wheelers & four two wheelers from the deputy manager.