Odisha Vigilance unearths 11 plots, two buildings, gold and Rs 5.16 lakh cash from ITI principal

Balangir: Odisha Vigilance has unearthed assets, including two buildings, 11 valuable plots, gold jewellery weighing 263 grams and cash amounting to Rs 5.16 lakh, during searches linked to Suresh Kumar Dalabehera, Principal of Government ITI, Balangir, who was arrested for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.

The searches were conducted at multiple locations linked to Dalabehera and his family members following his arrest on November 6 in a bribery case.

According to Odisha Vigilance, the assets unearthed so far include two buildings, one of which is a double-storeyed structure in Rourkela. Investigators have also detected 11 valuable plots in Rourkela, Sundargarh, Jatani, Kataka and Mahakalpada (Kendrapada district).

Besides, gold jewellery weighing around 263 grams, silver ornaments weighing approximately 2.5 kg and cash worth Rs 5.16 lakh have been found during the searches.

The Vigilance officials have also detected one Hyundai four-wheeler and three two-wheelers linked to the accused and his family members.

Dalabehera was apprehended by Odisha Vigilance on Friday (November 6) while allegedly accepting Rs 30,000 from an instructor and other Guest Instructors of Government ITI, Balangir.

According to the complaint, the Principal had demanded a total bribe of Rs 1.15 lakh from nine Guest Instructors for their continuation in service and regular disbursement of salaries. He had allegedly threatened to disengage them if they failed to pay the demanded amount.

Following the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap at Balangir Railway Station and caught Dalabehera while accepting Rs 30,000 as an instalment of the alleged bribe. The entire tainted amount was recovered from his possession and seized.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches were launched at three locations linked to him to investigate allegations of possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Dalabehera has been arrested and is being forwarded to the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Balangir.