Baragada: Vigilance sleuths Tuesday conducted simultaneous searches at the residence and office of Kartikeshwar Behera, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Katabahal panchayat under Gaisilet block in Baragada district, acting on allegations of possessing disproportionate assets.
The raids uncovered massive holdings, including 35 plots of land, a market complex, and a warehouse, among other properties. Behera is also holding additional charge as PEO of Firingimal and Gourenmunda panchayats. The searches were conducted under a warrant issued by the Special Vigilance Court, Baragada.
The assets include two multi-storied buildings spread over 14,500 square feet, a six-room market complex, a three-room warehouse, 35 plots, a tractor, a Mahindra Bolero, four two-wheelers, gold ornaments and household articles valued at about Rs 3.70 lakh and Rs 2.98 lakh in cash from his residence at Kandagada. Mahua flowers worth about Rs 22 lakh were also found in the warehouse. The officials also found a two-storied residential building spread over about 6,500 square feet at his ancestral Kandagad village near Gaisilet in the name of Behera and his family members.
A four-storied residential building spread over about 8,000 square feet is under construction at Gaisilet. Behera joined government service in 1994 as a panchayat secretary in Gaisilet, with a monthly salary of Rs 500. Later, he was promoted to the VLW post June 4, 2009, and the post was redesignated as PEO in 2012
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