Civil Supplies Officer Arrested By Odisha Vigilance For Amassing Assets More Than Income

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance officials arrested Civil Supplies Officer (CSO), Sonepur, Suresh Kumar Panigrahi for allegedly amassing huge assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The arrest was made after Vigilance sleuths unearthed two buildings, 19 plots and deposits worth Rs 1.72 crore during raids conducted on Wednesday at places linked to Panigrahi, a Vigilance statement said on Thursday.

During searches, the CSO was found in possession of disproportionate assets including 2 buildings, 1 farm house spread over 4 acres of land with 500 teak trees, 19 plots including 3 in Bhubaneswar, 4 in Sambalpur, 1 in Balangir, and 11 in Bargarh district, deposits over Rs.1.72 Crore, Rs 1.49 lakh cash, etc, which he could not explain satisfactorily.

Benami investments (properties in the name of others) in petrol pump, fly ash factory and JCB machine is also suspected.

Assets found in the name of Panigrahi and his family members are as follows:

1. A double-storey building over 2500 sqft area at Tulashinagar, Balangir.

2. One building at Tulashinagar, Balangir.

3. 19 plots (3 in prime areas of Bhubaneswar, 4 in Sambalpur town, 1 in Balangir town, 1 in Bargarh town, 4 in Balanda and 6 in Bijepur in Bargarh district).

4. A farmhouse spread over 4 acres with 500 teak trees at Balanda village, Bijepur, Bargarh.

5. Bank, insurance, postal deposits and investment in mutual fund amounting to Rs 1,72,35,946.

6. Rs 1.49 lakh in cash.

7. A four-wheeler (Maruti Swift) & 2 two-wheelers.

The measurement and valuation/assessment of buildings /plots/farm house are being carried out by Vigilance Technical Wing. One locker at SBI Branch, Balangir, is yet to be opened, it said.
This apart, he is suspected to have invested in the following assets, which is in the name of his brother:

9. A petrol pump (Sidheswari fuel centre) in name of brother at Pahandi, Bijepur, Bargarh.

10. Investment in fly ash bricks factory at Balanda village in the name of this brother.

11. A JCB excavator purchased in the name of brother.

The searches were carried out at these following places:

1) Residential house of Panigrahi at Tulasi Nagar, Balangir town.

2) His office chamber at Sonepur.

3) His paternal house at his native place Balanda village, Bijepur, Bargarh district.

4) Rented flat No. 7BD, 2nd Tower at Mani Tribhuban, Patia, Bhubaneswar.

5) Rented house of Panigrahi at Sonepur town.

6) House of his relative at Tulasi Nagar, Balangir.

While the CSO is being produced before the court, investigation in the case is underway.