Bhubaneswar: Odisha government today started the Vigilance Awareness Week with the theme ‘Culture of Integrity for Nation’s Prosperity.’ It will continue till November 3.
As the Vigilance Awareness Week began from today, here we bring you’re the remarkable performance of the Odisha Vigilance department from June 12 to October 26, 2024 with 10 major DA cases based on DA amount.
Registration of cases:
During this period, 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.
Disproportionate Assets (DA) cases:
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.
10 major DA cases based on DA amount:
Pradeep Kumar Rath, Addl. Chief Engineer, Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation, Odisha, Cuttack – DA to the tune of Rs.10,37,09,370/- including 2 multi storeyed buildings, 3 flats in Bhubaneswar, 50 plots, 1 medicine store, 1 crusher unit, gold approx 1 kg, deposits approx 2 crore, 2 four wheelers, 2 JCBs, 1 Excavator, 1 Rock breaker, etc unearthed.
Prasanna Kumar Swain, Asst. Engineer (Civil) Irrigation Division, Bhanjanagar, Dist-Ganjam – DA to the tune of Rs.8,11,38,614/- including 6 multi storeyed buildings, 6 high value plots, deposits Rs.40 lakhs, gold approx 200 gms, etc unearthed.
Tara Prasad Mishra, Former Chief Engineer, Roads & Building (Civil), Odisha, Bhubaneswar – DA to the tune of Rs.7,27,49,215/- including 11 high value flats in Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda & Ranchi, 1 four storeyed building at Bhubaneswar, 7 plots, Deposits approx Rs.3 crore, gold over 2.5 kg, diamond 370 gms, cash Rs.6 lakhs, 2 luxury cars including a Mercedes Benz, etc unearthed.
Pravas Kumar Pradhan, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Division, Balasore – DA to the tune of Rs.6,30,14,939/- including 1 five storeyed building, 1 market complex, 105 plots in Odisha & West Bengal, gold approx 335 gms, deposits Rs.1.44 crores, cash Rs.11.81 lakhs, 1 four wheeler, etc unearthed.
Sunil Kumar Rout, Chief Construction Engineer, Lower Suktel Irrigation Project, Bolangir – DA to the tune of Rs.5,79,65,847/- including 2 multi storeyed buildings, 3 flats (2 in Puri & 1 in Mathura), 1 farm house, 34 plots, deposits over Rs.2.84 crore, cash Rs.2.34 lakh, gold 1 Kg., silver 500 gms, 1 TATA LPT truck, 2 four wheelers, etc unearthed.
Dharanidhar Nayak, Deputy Director of Mines, Talcher, Dist-Angul – DA to the tune of Rs.4,78,83,971/- including 2 multi storeyed buildings, one 3-BHK flat & 1 duplex, 2 market complexes with 19 shops, 11 plots, deposits Rs.53.53 lakhs, cash over Rs.9.85 lakhs, household articles Rs.54.70 lakhs, etc unearthed.
V. Harihara Rao, Chief Engineer, O/o Chief Construction Engineer, Rural works Circle, Balasore – DA to the tune of Rs.4,07,20,782/- including 2 multi storeyed buildings, one 3-BHK flat, 3 suspected benami (illegal) flats at Bhubaneswar and Berhampur, 5 high value plots, deposits Rs.3.77 Crores, cash Rs.46.45 Lakhs unearthed during search from house of his brother-in-law at Berhampur, gold 510 gms, household articles over Rs.15 lakhs, etc unearthed.
Kailash Chandra Sahu, Chief Engineer & Basin Manager, Baitarani Basin, Keonjhar, Dist-Keonjhar – DA to the tune of Rs.3,67,89,725/- including 1 triple storeyed building, 3 flats, 28 plots, deposits over Rs.88 lakhs, gold approx 200 gms, etc unearthed.
Rama Chandra Mishra, Joint Commissioner of Excise, Bhubaneswar – DA to the tune of Rs.2,06,24,691/- including 6 multi storeyed buildings, 2 flats, 52 plots, deposits over Rs.43 lakhs, gold approx 230 gms, etc unearthed.
Pradeep Kumar Sahu, OAS, BDO, Athagarh, Dist-Cuttack – DA to the tune of Rs.1,60,29,475/- including 2 buildings, 1 flat, 3 plots, deposits over Rs.47 lakhs, cash Rs.6.11 lakhs, gold 452 gms, Silver 1 Kg, 2 four wheelers, etc unearthed.
Interception case:
On 01.08.2024, Akhyamita Kartik, OAS, BDO of Golamunda Block, Dist-Kalahandi was intercepted while proceeding to Koraput in her office vehicle, and a sum of Rs.5,40,000/- suspected ill-gotten cash was recovered.
Trap Cases: 45 trap cases have been registered during this period against 48 public servants and 6 private persons including 7 Class-I officers, 5 Class-II officers, 35 Class-III employees, 1 other public servant and 6 private persons for demand and acceptance of bribe amounting to Rs.10.52 Lakh. Some of the major.
Trap cases are as follows;
On 05.07.2024, Bichitrananda Nayak, Tahasildar, Chandrapur Tahasil, Dist-Rayagada was nabbed by Odisha Vigilance for illegal collection of cash of Rs.1,15,000/-, as 1st instalment from some villagers of Chandrapur area with false promise for issuance of ROR in their favour under Forest Rights Act.
On 12.07.2024, G. Prabhakara Patro, Chief Civil Supplies Officer, Bolangir was nabbed by Odisha Vigilance Odisha Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs.50,000/- for clearing pending bills and to place new supply order.
On 24.07.2024, Sujeet Kumar Padhy, Assistant Executive Engineer, Rural Works Sub-Division, Patnagarh Dist-Bolangir was nabbed by Odisha Vigilance Odisha Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs.50,000/- for facilitating release of final bill towards Govt. work.
On 30.07.2024, Nibedita Mohanty, Asst. Engineer, Jatni Block, Dist-Khordha was trapped by Odisha Vigilance Odisha Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs.50,000/- for clearing pending bill towards construction of Govt. work under Jatni Block.
On 07.10.2024, Jitendra Kumar Padhy, Executive Engineer, Tel Irrigation Division, Subarnapur was trapped by Odisha Vigilance Odisha Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs.46,000/- from a Contractor for clearing his pending bills.
On 02.07.2024, Dhobei Nayak, Tahasildar, Khandapara, Dist-Nayagarh and his associate Sri Prasanna Kumar Sahoo (Muharir – Private Person) were nabbed for demand and acceptance of bribe of Rs.20,000/- from a complainant to release his detained morrum laden Hyva truck. Sri Sahoo was acting as an agent for collection of bribes on behalf of Sri Nayak, Tahasildar.
On 19.07.2024, Dr. Ranjeeb Kumar Rout, Superintendent (Doctor) of Sainkul Community Health Centre (CHC), Dist-Keonjhar was trapped by Odisha Vigilance Odisha Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs.20,800 from a subordinate (complainant) working under Sainkul CHC, Dist-Keonjhar for appointment of his sister as Yoga Instructor under the same CHC as well as drawl of pending salary bill of Complt.
Misappropriation cases:
During this period, 17 misappropriation cases relating to misappropriation of public money have been registered against 20 public servants and 3 private persons including 2 Class-I officers, 1 Class-II officer, 13 Class-III employees, 4 other public servants and 3 private persons involving misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs.5.11Crore. Some of the major misappropriation cases are as follows;
Basanta Kumar Dash, Dy. Director of Fisheries (Brackish Water), office of Directorate of Fisheries, Odisha, Cuttack, misappropriation of Govt. funds to the tune of Rs.1.05 Crore by transferring money from Govt. account to his personal Bank Account during the financial year 2024-25.
Parikhita Jena, OAS, Former BDO, Suliapada, Mayurbhanj, misappropriation of Govt. money to the tune over 1 Crore of Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation funds without executing different developmental works in the Suliapada Block area during the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Binay Bhusan Tripathy, Ex-Asst. Commissioner, CT & GST Enforcement Unit, Jajpur Road, Jajpur was arrested along with 2 associates for bribery, evasion of taxes, and misappropriation by non-realization of due tax/ realization of less than applicable tax, in lieu of bribes from various transporters/suppliers, by flouting rules and norms of GST.
Submission of Charge Sheet:
During this period, 77 cases have been disposed of after investigation, out of which, charge sheets have been placed in 62 cases against 156 persons including 18 Class-I officers, 18 Class-II officers, 57 Class-III employees, 3 Class-IV employee, 9 other public servants and 51 Private persons.
Arrest:
During this period, 89 persons have been arrested, which include 22 Class-I officers, 11 Class-II officers, 41 Class-III employees, 2 other public servants and 13 private persons.
Conviction in Court:
During this period, 32 cases have ended in conviction against 6 Class-I officers, 5 Class-II officers, 25 Class-III employees, 1 Class-IV employee and 3 private persons. Thus, altogether, 40 accused persons have been convicted during the period. Conviction rate in Vigilance cases has been around 50%. In disproportionate assets cases, the conviction rate has been 80%.
Enquiries:
During this period, 68 enquiries have been initiated against 16 Class-I officers, 8 Class-II officers, 46 Class-III employees, 7 other public servants and 4 private persons on their alleged involvement in various acts of corruption/malpractices.
During this period, 40 enquiries have been disposed of, out of which 8 enquiries have been referred to respective departments for initiation of departmental action and 28 enquiries have been converted to criminal cases and 4 enquiries were closed due to inadequate substantiation.
Dismissal from service:
During this period, 8 public servants have been dismissed from Govt. service following their conviction in Vigilance cases, which include 1 Class-II officer and 7 Class-III employees.
Stoppage of pension:
During this period, the pension of 11 retired public servants i.e. 2 Class-II officers and 9 Class-III employees have been stopped, consequent upon their conviction in Vigilance cases.
Vigilance Clearance:
During this period, Vigilance clearance in respect of 12,176 public servants were issued in response to 1940 letters received from Govt./Heads of the Departments/District Offices/Public Sector Undertakings of Odisha for the purpose of Promotion/VRS/Pension/RACP/MACP/Passport etc.
Forest Wing:
During this period, the Forest Wing of Vigilance has conducted 41 joint raids with the help of local forest officials and seized timber, machineries and vehicles worth over Rs.1.66 Crore.
