Bhubaneswar: Patient handling of a hesitant whistleblower and use of philosophical guidance by Odisha Vigilance to secure his cooperation led to the record recovery of Rs 4.27 crore in cash from deputy director of mines Debabrata Mohanty and his subsequent arrest.
According to sources, the same coal vendor had first approached Vigilance about two years ago with complaints of harassment and bribe demands by another official. Although a trap could not be set then, a Vigilance officer maintained contact with the complainant, keeping the channel open.
Fifty-eight-year-old Mohanty later demanded a monthly bribe of Rs 40,000 from the coal vendor to allow his business run smoothly. The contractor lodged a verbal complaint but hesitated to file a formal one, fearing business repercussions and retaliation. He then went incommunicado, switching off his phone.
Vigilance officials tracked him down and provided extensive counselling. Drawing from the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, one officer spent over three hours reminding him of Lord Krishna’s advice to Arjuna: To perform one’s duty (dharma) without fear of consequences, choosing righteousness over corruption and personal apprehension. They even sent him a clip of the Bhagavad Gita to reinforce the message. This philosophical appeal, combined with assurances, ultimately convinced the contractor to lodge a written complaint.
Following which, Mohanty, who served as deputy director (mines) of Cuttack circle, was put under surveillance. He was caught while allegedly accepting a Rs 30,000 bribe from the coal vendor, who was accompanied by two plainclothes Vigilance officers posing as sand traders, in his chamber at around 3 pm on Tuesday. Subsequent searches led to recovery of Rs 4.27 crore in trolley bags, and in almirahs at his rented house at upscale Chandrasekharpur area, the largest such haul in the agency’s history.
To mislead investigators about his residence, Mohanty claimed he owned only a house in Pahala on the outskirts of the city. However, officers proceeded to the apartment at Chandrasekharpur and traced the flat. When his wife initially denied knowing him, they had Mohanty call her from custody and her phone rang, exposing the truth.
Fifty-eight-year-old had allegedly kept his rented accommodation under wraps and even his driver was unaware of its exact location. He always walked back home after getting dropped off by his driver a few kilometres short of his flat, the sources added.
