Sambalpur: The Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday unearthed multi-storey buildings, over a dozen prime plots of land, and a fleet of vehicles during simultaneous raids on properties linked to Padmalochan Nayak, the Executive Engineer of CADA, Sambalpur Division.
The anti-corruption agency initiated the crackdown following allegations that Nayak had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The raids is being carried out by four DSPs, 13 inspectors, seven ASIs, and additional supporting personnel at seven locations across four districts – Sambalpur, Kataka, Baleshwar, and Malkangiri – on the strength of search warrants issued by the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.
According to Vigilance sources, the searches have so far revealed an extensive real estate portfolio spread across multiple districts. The key assets unearthed include:
>> A massive triple-storey residential building spanning approximately 7,000 Sqft at Bidyadharpur, Kataka.
>> Additionally, a double-storey residential building over 1,465 Sqft at Mukhalis under Basta police limits in Baleshwar district.
>> A total of 15 valuable plots on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Korei (Jajpur), Basta (Baleshwar), and Delanga (Puri).
The Vigilance Technical Wing has been deployed to conduct formal measurements and carry out a valuation assessment of these buildings and land parcels.
Cash, Foreign Currency, and Vehicles Seized
>> Apart from real estate, officials seized Rs 3,45,000 in cash along with a collection of foreign currency notes from the United States, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bahrain.
>> The raid also revealed a substantial fleet of machinery and personal vehicles: 1 JCB machine, 3 four-wheelers (a Toyota Innova, a Tata Indigo, and a Maruti Suzuki WagonR), 1 two-wheeler
Bank, postal deposits, and other investments in various financial instruments are currently being verified and ascertained, a senior Vigilance official stated.
The anti-corruption agency confirmed that the searches are still underway at multiple locations. In Sambalpur, teams are searching Nayak’s rented residential house as well as his official chamber, both located in the Dhanupali area.
The raid has also extended to his native place and properties in other districts. This includes a triple-story residential building owned by Nayak in Bidyadharpur, Kataka, and a double-story residential house in Mukhalis, under the jurisdiction of Basta police limits in Baleshwar district. Furthermore, the agency has extended its scanner to Nayak’s inner circle, conducting searches at two separate residential locations belonging to his associates in Kataka city, and another associate’s property at Kalimela in Malkangiri.
A detailed and comprehensive report regarding the total valuation of the disproportionate assets will be released once the assessments are complete.
