2 Pollution Control Board Officers In Vigilance Net In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Vigilance officials on Saturday arrested an officer of State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on corruption charge and seized a large amount of unaccounted money from another officer.

Acting on reliable information regarding collection of huge cash by Prakash Kumar Mohapatra, Regional Officer, State Pollution Control Board, Panposh, Rourkela as illegal gratification from different sources, a team of Vigilance officials kept a close watch over his movement.

The team intercepted Mohapatra at Sundarpada in Bhubaneswar while he was returning from Rourkela and recovered Rs 1,75,810 from his possession. As he could not account for the money satisfactorily, the team seized the cash and incriminating document. 

Bhubaneswar Vigilance has registered a case under Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 against Mohapatra and arrested him. His residential house at Hi-Tech Plaza in Sundarpada is being searched. 

In the second case, the Vigilance sleuths intercepted Narottam Behera, Regional Officer, State Pollution Control Board, Balasore at Tangi check gate in Cuttack while he was going from Balasore to Bhubaneswar in a car.

They recovered Rs 89,290 from Behera who could not account for it satisfactorily. The Vigilance officials seized the cash and the car. 

The office room and residential quarters of Behera and his rented house at Satyanagar in Bhubaneswar are being searched. 

Cuttack Vigilance has registered a case against Behera and further investigation is on.