Bhubaneswar: The vigilance wing on Tuesday arrested Pradeep Kumar Rath, additional chief engineer of Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC), in a disproportionate assets case. During searches on Monday, vigilance sleuths had found Rath in alleged possession of 50 plots and other moveable and immovable assets. The valuation of his assets is still ongoing, but sources said it could be around Rs 14 crore.
This is the fourth arrest of top govt officers in disproportionate assets case in the state in the last two weeks.
The properties, according to vigilance officers, are far more than his known sources of earning. During searches it was found that Rath had Rs 74 lakh in insurance deposits. He was found to be in possession of two multi-storeyed buildings, two high value flats in Bhubaneswar, 50 plots of which three are worth Rs 1crore, one medicine store, one crusher unit, one kg of gold ornaments, two four-wheelers, three excavators and one rock breaker, said vigilance officials.
Rath was produced in a vigilance court, which remanded him in judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected.
Vigilance officials said Rath had joined govt service as an engineer at Baliapal block, Balasore, and worked there till 1999 in different blocks. While serving in the rural works department in Dhenkanal, he was appointed as an assistant engineer. He served in the same position in Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack under the works department. In 2022, he was promoted as additional chief engineer.
On Saturday, vigilance wing had arrested Pravas Kumar Pradhan, chief engineer of Anandpur barrage division for allegedly possessing 85 plots. Earlier, Sunil Kumar Rout, chief construction engineer, Lower Suktel irrigation and excise joint commissioner Ram Chandra Mishra were arrested in disproportionate assets cases.

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