Balasore: As part of its drive against corrupt and inefficient officials, the state government on Tuesday issued compulsory retirement order to former regional manager of State Pollution Control Board, Balasore branch, Narottam Behera.
Behera has been suspended for alleged corruption.
The former regional manager was intercepted by Odisha Vigilance on October 9 at Tangi check gate, Cuttack, while he was on his way to Bhubaneswar from Balasore in a hired car. He was found in possession of Rs 89,290 cash which he could not account for.
During further search, Rs 9,25,000 cash was seized from his house at Satya Nagar in Bhubaneswar. Further search of his government quarter led to disclosure of Rs 6,35,723 cash.
The Vigilance recovered total cash of Rs 16,50,013 from Behera while his bank balances and investment in LIC policies and mutual funds were found to be Rs 30 lakh.
Land records of Behera and family members are being verified. One plot has been found in the name of Narottam Behera at Raghunathpur in Khurda district, so far, the Vigilance stated.
The state has so far taken action against 132 corrupt officers.
On November 18, former deputy manager of Odisha Police Housing & Welfare Corporation (OPHWC) Pratap Kumar Samal was also asked to go on compulsory retirement after he was found in possession of assets 1021% more than his known sources of income.
