Keonjhar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Tuesday unearthed a three-storey building, a market complex and six plots in Keonjhar during a raid on panchayat extension officer (PEO) of Bancho under Hatadihi block, Jitendra Kumar Jena.
The simultaneous searches were conducted by teams, comprising 4 DSPs, 8 inspectors, and other supporting staff, at the residential and commercial properties, rented storehouses, shop, ancestral house and office premises of Jena on allegations of accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, a Vigilance release said.
Assets uncovered so far are as follows:
1. A triple-storey building over 3300 square feet area at Biranchip
ur, Hatadihi, Keonjhar
2. A newly-constructed double-storey market complex over 5000 square feet area at Jagannathpur Mouza, Basantia Bazar, Hatadihi, Keonjhar.
3. Two rented godowns of Maa Saraswati Sales at Basantia Bazar, Hatadihi, Keonjhar
4. One electronics shop ‘Saraswati Sales’ at Bidyadharpur
5. Six plots – three at Chandia, Biranchipur, Hatadihi and as many at Jagannathpur Mouza, Basantia Bazar, Hatadihi, Keonjhar.
6. 100 gram gold
7. A four-wheeler (Maruti Ertiga) and two two-wheelers
Measurement and valuation of the above properties are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing. Bank, postal deposits and other investments are also being ascertained, the release added.
Jena has been working in Hatadihi block of Keonjhar for the last 3 decades. He joined as Secretary, Hadgarh GP, on August 12, 1995, at a consolidated monthly salary of Rs 2,200. He was promoted to the rank of PEO in 2009 and posted at Samana GP, Hatadihi block. He worked as PEO of Samana, Dhenka, and K Belpal GPs under Hatadihi Block till July 2024, when he was posted as PEO, Bancho GP.