Tribal development officer in vigilance net for amassing assets worth Rs 10 crore | Bhubaneswar News
Rourkela/Bhubaneswar: Vigilance officials on Thursday unearthed assets worth around Rs 10 crore allegedly belonging to a govt official in Sundargarh district. The assets include multiple buildings, flats and plots located in Bhubaneswar and Puri.
Biswadarsi Sahoo (50) works as a project administrator (PA) with the integrated tribal development agency (ITDA) under the ST/SC development department and is posted in Sundargarh district. Anti-corruption officials have taken him into custody for questioning, with his arrest expected on Friday.
Searches carried out across several locations revealed Sahoo’s alleged ownership of a double-storeyed residential building of 3,600 sqft at Sriram Nagar in Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. Further discoveries included a flat in Laxmisagar area and another in Kharavel Nagar area in the capital city. Sahoo had recently also made a payment of Rs 82 lakh towards booking a 2BHK flat valued at Rs 1.5 crore in Kharavel Nagar area.
Among the nine plots unearthed, eight are in prime locations across Bhubaneswar, with one at Batagaon in Puri. “Our technical wing is currently assessing and evaluating the buildings and plots,” vigilance director Yeshwant Jethwa said.
Officials recovered Rs 4.51 lakh in cash from his Bhubaneswar residence and traced bank and insurance deposits totalling Rs 61.42 lakh. Additional findings included 150 grams of gold jewellery and household items, including a car and four motorcycles, valued at approximately Rs 21.14 lakh. “The current estimated value of total assets stands at Rs 10 crore, with potential for increase as investigations continue,” another vigilance officer said.
Officials are interrogating Sahoo regarding the money source. He had joined govt service in Jan 2005 and currently earns a monthly salary of about Rs 89,000, a source in vigilance department said.
The vigilance directorate suspects Sahoo amassed properties through misappropriation of tribal development funds and possible illegal benefits from contractors in various project implementations. The anti-corruption wing is examining his previous administrative decisions and project-related orders.
Biswadarsi Sahoo (50) works as a project administrator (PA) with the integrated tribal development agency (ITDA) under the ST/SC development department and is posted in Sundargarh district. Anti-corruption officials have taken him into custody for questioning, with his arrest expected on Friday.
Searches carried out across several locations revealed Sahoo’s alleged ownership of a double-storeyed residential building of 3,600 sqft at Sriram Nagar in Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. Further discoveries included a flat in Laxmisagar area and another in Kharavel Nagar area in the capital city. Sahoo had recently also made a payment of Rs 82 lakh towards booking a 2BHK flat valued at Rs 1.5 crore in Kharavel Nagar area.
Among the nine plots unearthed, eight are in prime locations across Bhubaneswar, with one at Batagaon in Puri. “Our technical wing is currently assessing and evaluating the buildings and plots,” vigilance director Yeshwant Jethwa said.
Officials recovered Rs 4.51 lakh in cash from his Bhubaneswar residence and traced bank and insurance deposits totalling Rs 61.42 lakh. Additional findings included 150 grams of gold jewellery and household items, including a car and four motorcycles, valued at approximately Rs 21.14 lakh. “The current estimated value of total assets stands at Rs 10 crore, with potential for increase as investigations continue,” another vigilance officer said.
Officials are interrogating Sahoo regarding the money source. He had joined govt service in Jan 2005 and currently earns a monthly salary of about Rs 89,000, a source in vigilance department said.
The vigilance directorate suspects Sahoo amassed properties through misappropriation of tribal development funds and possible illegal benefits from contractors in various project implementations. The anti-corruption wing is examining his previous administrative decisions and project-related orders.
