In a significant crackdown on alleged corruption, the Odisha Vigilance Directorate on Tuesday seized unaccounted cash amounting to a staggering Rs 72 lakh from properties connected to a government officer. The cash was discovered stashed inside a locked, unoccupied house linked to Jitendra Kumar Panda, the 50-year-old additional tehsildar of Baranga in Cuttack district.
Simultaneous Raids Reveal Hidden Wealth
Acting on specific intelligence about the amassing of disproportionate assets, anti-corruption teams conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations associated with Panda in Bhubaneswar, Khurda, and Baranga. The operation yielded immediate results.
At Panda's own three-storey residence in Gopaluni Nagar, Badagada, officials recovered Rs 6.2 lakh in cash and 100 grams of gold jewellery. The major haul, however, came from a parallel search at his mother-in-law's house in Badagada Brit Colony. This property, though locked and vacant for years, concealed approximately Rs 66 lakh in cash. Investigators noted that while the house was not abandoned, it remained unoccupied as Panda's mother-in-law resided with him at his Gopaluni Nagar home.
A Trail of Prime Properties and Suspected Modus Operandi
The vigilance probe extended beyond cash, uncovering a portfolio of valuable real estate. The assets traced include a 2BHK flat in Uttara, Bhubaneswar, a double-storey building in Sanapalla, Khurda, and four prime plots of land. Three of these plots are situated in upscale localities of Bhubaneswar. All these properties are registered in the names of Panda's family members and relatives.
A senior vigilance officer shed light on the suspected source of this wealth. "We suspect Panda may have amassed these assets by extending undue favours to real estate developers during his tenure," the officer stated. Panda served as a trainee reserve officer at the office of the sub-registrar in Bhubaneswar from 2021 to 2023, and later as additional tehsildar at Pipili in 2023. Since July 2023, he has been posted at Baranga, a known hub for real estate activity in Cuttack district.
Scrutiny of Income and Disproportionate Assets
The investigation highlights a stark contrast between Panda's known income and the assets discovered. He began his career in 1995 with a modest monthly salary of just Rs 2,000. Currently, his gross monthly salary stands at Rs 1.23 lakh. The vigilance wing is now meticulously examining his bank accounts, postal deposits, and other investments.
"He failed to disclose the legitimate source of his assets. A detailed assessment of his income and expenditure is underway to determine the exact extent of his disproportionate wealth," the investigating officer added. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by the state's anti-corruption agency to tackle graft among public officials, particularly those in positions that interface with lucrative sectors like real estate.
