Bhubaneswar: Susil Kumar Panda, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of Ganjam block, was found with assets worth crores of rupees during simultaneous raids at seven locations by Odisha Vigilance on Saturday.
A multi-storey building, two flats and six high-value pots, Rs 2.05 lakh, 126 gram gold and deposits, amounting to Rs 50 lakh, were detected in the house searches launched following allegation that Panda had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The searches covered properties in Berhampur, Puri, Ganjam, and his office and was conducted under the supervision of six Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), seven Inspectors, and supporting staff, based on search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur.
Interestingly, the AEE is due to retire in 2 days.
Assets unearthed in the name of Panda and his family members are as follows:
1. One-triple storey building over 4620 sqft area at Ram Hari Nagar, Berhampur.
2. One 2-BHK flat over 700 sqft area at Mukteswar apartment, Ankuli, Berhampur.
3. One 1-BHK flat over 600 sqft area at Puri.
4. 6 high value plots at Bhubaneswar, Khurda & Berhampur.
5. Rs 2,05,000 in cash.
6. Gold ornaments weighing 126 grams.
7. Bank deposits worth Rs 50 lakh.
8. 1 four wheeler (Mahindra KUV) & 2 two wheelers.
9. Household articles worth around Rs 10 lakh.
The Vigilance release said that measurement and valuation/assessment of the building/flats/ plots are being carried out by Vigilance Technical Wing. One bank locker at Central Cooperative Bank, Berhampur, being maintained in the joint name of Panda & his spouse is still to be opened. “Panda is being questioned to ascertain the source of the assets. Further searches are continuing. More assets are likely to be unearthed and overall valuation is likely to go up,” it said.
Panda entered government service as JE (contractual) at Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district in 1997. Then, he worked as JE in different blocks in the district till 2015. In August 2015, he was regularised and posted to Purushottampur block in Ganjam. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Engineer and posted to Sergarh block in 2022. A year later, Panda was given another promotion as AEE at Ganjam block. His entire service period is in the district of Ganjam, the release added.