Cuttack: Odisha Vigilance officers on Tuesday raided two officers – Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Bancho GP under Hatadihi Block of Keonjhar district and Additional Tahasildar of Barang in Cuttack.
In Keonjhar, they conducted disproportionate assets (DA) searches at six locations linked to PEO Jitendra Kumar Jena led by four DSPs and eight Inspectors. They launched simultaneous searches based on warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar. The operation targets allegations of disproportionate assets against Jena.
Officials entered his residential triple-storied building at Biranchipur, Mareigaon, Hatadihi. They inspected a newly constructed double-storeyed market complex at Jagannathpur mouza, Basantia Bazar. The team also searched two rented godowns of Maa Saraswati Sales at Basantia Bazar.
Investigators examined his electronics shop, “Saraswati Sales” at Bidyadharpur. They moved to his paternal house at Padhiaripalli village in Hatadihi. Finally, they checked his office at Bancho GP under Hatadihi Block.
The Vigilance operation continues as officers document findings from each property. The searches aim to uncover evidence of disproportionate assets and financial irregularities. They also unearthed six plots, including 3 at Chandia, Biranchipur, Hatadihi & 3 in Jagannathpur mouza, Basantia Bazar, Hatadihi, Keonjhar.
Similarly in Cuttack, Vigilance team unearthed massive disproportionate assets during searches linked to Jitendra Kumar Panda, Additional Tahasildar, Barang. The team discovered two multi-storeyed buildings in Bhubaneswar, one 2 BHK flat at Uttara, Bhubaneswar, and another multi-storeyed building at Khordha town. Officials also identified four high-value plots, including three in prime Bhubaneswar localities and one in Khordha.
Investigators found a triple-storeyed building at Gopaluni Nagar, Badagada, Bhubaneswar, and another at LB-187, Badagada Brit Colony. They also searched a double-storeyed building at Sanapalla, Khordha. The Vigilance Technical Wing is assessing the valuation of these properties.
Searches revealed cash worth Rs.6.20 lakh, gold jewellery weighing 100 grams, one Kia Seltos car, and four two-wheelers. A locker at SBI Bhubaneswar remains unopened, while bank deposits, postal savings, and other investments are being verified.
In a dramatic update, Vigilance officers recovered approximately Rs.75 lakh in cash from a locked house belonging to Panda’s mother-in-law at LB-187, Badagada Brit Colony, Bhubaneswar. Panda had allegedly stashed the money there. His mother-in-law, bedridden, resides with him. Counting of the seized cash is in progress.
Panda entered government service on November 10, 1995, as a Senior Laboratory Assistant in the Office of the Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Cuttack, under a rehabilitation scheme with an initial salary of Rs.2,000 per month. The searches continue, and Vigilance officials expect more revelations as investigations proceed.