Bhubaneswar/Sundaragada: An Odisha government employee was arrested Saturday for allegedly possessing assets, including four buildings, seven high-value plots, and bank deposits worth around Rs 1.46 crore, disproportionate to his known sources of income, a vigilance officer said.
The accused, identified as Prasanna Kumar Patra, has been working as a deputy director of soil conservation division in Sundaragada district, he said.
The arrest was made a day after properties, including four buildings, a flat and seven high-value plots in Bhubaneswar, and movable assets of 212 grams of gold and bank deposits worth around Rs 1.46 crore, were found in his possession, the vigilance department officer said.
Acting on a tip-off, vigilance sleuths conducted raids at the office and properties of the accused Friday.
“The officer possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. So, he was placed under arrest,” the officer said.
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During the raids, Rs 1.29 lakh in cash and three two-wheelers were also found in his possession.
Following the search operation, a case has been registered against the accused at Rourkela Vigilance police station under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The accused joined government service in 1995 as a junior soil conservation officer, with an initial monthly salary of Rs 7,000.
He was promoted to assistant soil conservation officer in 2017, assistant director of soil conservation in 2019 and deputy director of soil conservation in 2024.