Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance Monday found another 703 gram gold from a bank locker of a government engineer, who was arrested June 7 for allegedly possessing assets worth crores of rupees, including more than Rs 2 crore in cash, five multi-storey buildings, 14 high-value plots, and deposits worth over Rs 45 lakh.
With the recovery of additional gold ornaments, the Vigilance sleuths have so far found 1.255 kg of the yellow metal from Baikuntha Nath Behera, assistant executive engineer, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Baliguda in Kandhamal district.
He was arrested for possessing disproportionate assets to his known source of income, a Vigilance officer said.
During raids on properties linked to Behera, the department found at least five lockers in the names of Behera and his wife. One of the lockers was opened Monday, he said.
Odisha govt engineer arrested in disproportionate assets case after more Rs 2 crore cash found
According to the Vigilance department, Behera joined government service in 1999 as a junior engineer (civil) at Nabarangpur block with a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. He later served in various positions under the ITDA and other government establishments in Nabarangpur and Udala.
He was promoted to the post of assistant engineer in October 2016 and subsequently posted at ITDA, Nabarangpur. In February 2026, he was promoted as assistant executive engineer and posted at ITDA, Baliguda, where he continues to serve.