Odisha cracks down on corruption, Vigilance makes major seizures
Odisha: In a major anti-corruption breakthrough, the Odisha Vigilance Department has seized over ₹4 crore in unaccounted cash from the Bhubaneswar residence of Deputy Director of Mines Debabrata Mohanty. Officials confirmed that this is the highest single-day cash recovery in the department’s history.
Major Raid on Bribery Allegations
The operation began late Tuesday night when Vigilance officials allegedly caught Mohanty accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from a licensed coal vendor. The payment was allegedly demanded in exchange for facilitating the smooth functioning of the vendor’s coal depot and allowing coal transportation.
Following the trap, three locations were simultaneously searched as part of the disproportionate assets (DA) investigation:
Nature’s Crest Apartments, a residential flat in Sri Vihar, Patia, Bhubaneswar
Parents’ home in Mathasahi, Bhadrak
Office chamber in Cuttack
₹4 crore in cash recovered from Patia flat
During the search at the Patia apartment, vigilance teams found stacks of currency notes hidden in trolley bags and cupboards. The total amount seized exceeds ₹4 crore, and counting is still underway to determine the final amount.
Another ₹1.20 lakh was recovered from a drawer in Mohanty’s office chamber.
More Assets Found
Investigators also revealed:
First, a two-story residential building measuring approximately 2,400 sq ft in Bhubaneswar
Gold jewelry weighing approximately 130 grams
Officials stated that more information may emerge as the investigation progresses.
Case Registered Under the Prevention of Corruption Act
A formal case has been registered against Mohanty at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Searches are ongoing at all identified locations.
Administrative Impact
This case has drawn the attention of Odisha’s administrative and mining sectors. Officials stated that the investigation will continue in accordance with the legal process, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Further updates are expected as officials complete the property verification and documentation process.
