In one of the biggest disproportionate assets investigations in recent months, Odisha Vigilance has launched simultaneous raids at nine locations linked to Baikuntha Nath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer of ITDA, Baliguda in Kandhamal district.
The searches, conducted across Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Jajpur, and Baliguda, have so far unearthed multiple luxury properties, high-value land holdings, huge cash deposits, and bank lockers suspected to contain further assets. The operation is still underway.
Acting on allegations that Baikuntha Nath Behera possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, Odisha Vigilance launched coordinated searches at nine locations on the strength of warrants issued by the Special Vigilance Court, Bhubaneswar.
The search operation involved a large team comprising Additional Superintendents of Police, Deputy Superintendents of Police, Inspectors, and supporting staff.
Properties searched include residences in Chandrasekharpur, Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, Dharmasala in Jajpur district, Baripada, his official residence in Baliguda, and his office chamber.
During the searches, Vigilance officials discovered five multi-storey buildings linked to the engineer and his family members.
Among them is a massive four-storey building spread over approximately 10,500 square feet in Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar.
Investigators also identified four additional residential buildings located in prime areas of Bhubaneswar and Jajpur district.
Apart from the buildings, officials unearthed thirteen valuable plots, including seven plots in premium locations of Bhubaneswar and several others in Jajpur and Baripada.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when officials recovered approximately ₹2 crore in cash from bank lockers allegedly linked to the family.
Earlier, cash worth over Rs 2.66 lakh had already been seized during house searches.
The valuation of gold ornaments, bank deposits, postal savings, investments, and other financial instruments is currently underway.
Technical experts from the Vigilance Department are also assessing the market value of the properties and land holdings.
According to official records, Baikuntha Nath Behera joined government service in 1999 as a Junior Engineer with an initial monthly salary of around Rs 6,000.
Over the years, he served in various tribal development agencies and engineering assignments before being promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer earlier this year.
Vigilance officials are now examining whether the assets accumulated by him are proportionate to his lawful income.
With luxury buildings, prime land parcels, substantial cash recoveries, and financial investments coming under scrutiny, this case is emerging as one of the most significant anti-corruption investigations in Odisha this year.
As the searches continue and the valuation process progresses, Vigilance officials are expected to reveal the full extent of the alleged disproportionate assets in the coming days.