Bhubaneswar: Rajat Kumar Routray, former Nazir of Jajpur tehsil, managed to evade arrest for the last six years by changing his name, frequently changing his whereabouts and mobile phone number.
Routray, the main accused in several cases of misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 4.95 crore, finally ran out of luck on Thursday when he was arrested by a team of Odisha Vgilance. He was absconding since 2016.
Still, the Vigilance team had a tough time locating him in his hideout, a rented house at CDA, Cuttack, where he was staying along with his second wife.
When the Vigilance team reached the address, the Nazir and his wife locked themselves inside. The Nazir climbed a dark, narrow passage from the kitchen and hid himself under the terrace. The Vigilance team broke open the door and after a thorough search managed to trace him.
Routray is allegedly involved in multiple cases of irregularities and misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 4.95 crore between April 1, 2006 and April 5, 2016 in connivance with other government officials of Jajpur tehsil, the Vigilance said in a press statement.
An audit in this regard was conducted by a Special Audit Team of the Board of Revenue, Cuttack, in 2016. Immediately after the audit was initiated, the Nazir had absconded. He had cut all contact with his family and close relations and remained untraceable all these years.
He has been arrested in three cases.
Routray has already been dismissed from service by the state government. He was forwarded to court following his arrest.
