Vigilance seizes assets worth more than Rs 7 crore of RW executive engineer

Berhampur: Following simultaneous raids conducted at five different places linked to the executive engineer of Rural Works (RW) electrical division here in Ganjam identified as Jagannath Sethy, the Vigilance unearthed assets worth over Rs 7 crore, an official said Thursday.

As per a press release by the anti-corruption agency, separate teams of Odisha Vigilance sleuths had carried out searches Wednesday. The illegally amassed movable and immovable assets of Sethy and his family members, which were detected by the teams, include:

A five-storey building located at the 11th Lane (Extension) in Gajapati Nagar of Berhampur City worth around Rs 1.68 crore, a four-storey building at 3rd Lane in AIIMS Nagar of Bhubaneswar worth around Rs 1.5 crore, a four-storey building located at 8th Lane in Gajapati Nagar of Berhampur worth about Rs 90 lakh, a single-storey building at Sethy’s native place in Putabagada village of Chhatrapur locality worth around Rs 9.53 lakh, 12 plots in prime areas of Bhubaneswar, Jatni and Berhampur, the registered sale deed (RSD) value approximately coming to Rs 1.34 crore, bank deposits in the name of Sethy and his family members worth over Rs 85 lakh, two four-wheelers (Mahindra XUV and Hyundai Creta) worth around Rs 25 lakh, cash to the tune of Rs 19,88,790, three two-wheelers worth around Rs 2,77,163 lakh and gold and silver ornaments including several household articles.

House searches were underway till late Wednesday night and the list of movable and immovable assets of the executive engineer Sethy is very likely to increase, the Vigilance official source further said.

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“Raids were carried out based on allegations that Sethy has amassed assets unequal to his legal sources of income. The five Vigilance teams were led by an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) four Deputy SP (DSPs), 10 Inspectors, and several other subordinate staff,” SP of the anti-corruption agency Trilochan Swain informed.

Acting on a tip-off, the sleuths conducted raids at five different places in Khurda and Ganjam districts on the strength of a search warrant issued by Special Vigilance Judge in Berhampur city of Ganjam.

The five places where searches were conducted include: a residential four-storey building located at 8th Lane and a five-storey building at 11th Lane (Extension), both in Gajapati Nagar of Berhampur, a four-storey building at AIIMS Nagar, 3rd Lane of Bhubaneswar, the office of Sethy at Ambapua locality in Berhampur, a house at his native village in Puttabagada under Chhatrapur police limits of Ganjam.

“Sethy in Berhampur and his son in Bhubaneswar locked themselves inside the houses, thereby obstructing the Vigilance teams. The father and son duo showed non-cooperation even after being told about the house search warrant. The Vigilance sleuths broke open the doors of two houses and later carried out the searches,” the official stated.

Technical Wing of the anti-corruption agency will carry out a detailed assessment of the value of some properties as it is suspected that there is undervaluation, which may increase the value further.

Legal actions, as due and proper, will be taken against the father-son duo for obstructing and in lawful discharge of duties, Swain added.

“Raids are likely to continue to detect all the movable and immovable assets of engineer Sethy. Vigilance sleuths have been scrutinising several important documents seized during raids,” the source said.

PNN