Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance on Friday arrested Tapan Sethi, the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the R&B Sub-Division in Badachana in Jajpur, in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
The arrest follows extensive raids conducted across seven locations in Kataka, Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Jajpur, based on search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Kataka.
During the house searches, the anti-corruption agency unearthed massive movable and immovable assets worth crores that Sethi could not satisfactorily explain. The uncovered properties include three multi-storeyed buildings in Kataka, Puri and Bhubaneswar, a one-acre farmhouse near Kataka, and three high-value plots, two in Bhubaneswar and one at CDA in Kataka. Roughly 747 grams of gold jewellery, cash and household items valued at about Rs. 11.60 lakhs, bank and insurance deposits totalling Rs. 20.87 lakhs, two four-wheelers (including a Grand Vitara and a Hyundai Santro), and four two-wheelers, were also seized
A case has been registered against Sethi under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the Vigilance Cell Police Station, and further investigation is currently underway.
Born on August 24, 1972, Sethi began his career in government service on August 6, 1997, joining as a Civil Junior Engineer under the Engineer-in-Chief (Civil), Odisha, with an initial monthly salary of Rs. 5,000. Over the decades, he has held postings across various divisions, including Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, and Bhubaneswar, before assuming his current role as Assistant Executive Engineer in October 2023.