In a significant crackdown on corruption, Odisha’s Vigilance Department has unearthed a substantial amount of property amassed by a high-ranking official. The latest raid on August 2 revealed that Pravas Kumar Pradhan, Chief Construction Engineer of the Anandpur Barrage Division, and his family own 85 plots of land.
The department reported that Pradhan’s properties include 80 plots in Jaleswar (Balasore district), four in Delanga (Puri district), and one in Sunakania (West Bengal). Additionally, he owns a five-storey building of approximately 12,500 square feet and a newly constructed market complex spanning about 5,650 square feet in Jaleswar.
“The plots were purchased over different years, registered in his name and those of his family members, with the total registered sale deed value exceeding ₹2 crores. The actual market value is likely much higher, which is currently being assessed,” stated the Vigilance Directorate. The department’s technical team is measuring and valuing the buildings and plots to determine the precise value.
This discovery follows closely on the heels of other significant finds by the Vigilance Department. Earlier this week, Rama Chandra Mishra, Joint Commissioner of Excise, was arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Investigations revealed that he and his family owned 52 plots, six multi-storey buildings, and two apartments, with properties located in Sambalpur, Balangir, and Subarnapur.
Similarly, Sunil Kumar Rout, Chief Construction Engineer of the Lower Suktel Project in Balangir, was found to have assets exceeding 257% of his known income. Rout owns two multi-storey buildings in Bhubaneswar, three flats in Puri and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), and 34 plots, including a farmhouse spanning eight acres.
Vigilance Director Y.K. Jethwa expressed surprise at the number of plots acquired by these officials. “We do not consider family-inherited land; only the plots purchased during their service period are accounted for,” he noted. Jethwa explained that purchasing land is a common method for corrupt officials to convert black money into white. They often report lower registered sale deed values than the actual market price, but the Vigilance Department uses benchmark values closer to the market rate for assessments.
Detecting these land purchases involves meticulous investigation. The Vigilance Department collects information from various sources over two to three months before conducting raids. This information is cross-checked with government land records. In the past month alone, Odisha Vigilance has conducted raids on nearly 10 Class I officers of the state government, uncovering extensive illicit wealth.
These recent findings underscore the ongoing efforts and significant progress made by the Vigilance Directorate in combating corruption in Odisha.
Prasanta Patnaik