Bhubaneswar: Acting on allegations regarding amassing disproportionate assets (DA) by Bandita Mahapatra, former Planning Member, and Laxmi Narayan Samal, junior clerk (contractual), of Sambalpur Development Authority, Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Tuesday launched simultaneous searches at various locations of the two persons. The searches are being conducted by 6 DSPs, 9 Inspectors, 6 ASIs, and other staff of the Odisha Vigilance Department on the strength of search warrants issued by Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.
Both were arrested in September 2023 by Sambalpur Police for forgery and issue of fake approval letters of building plans to applicants.
The searches are being conducted at the following places linked to Bandita Mahapatra:
- A residential apartment (Flat No. P/6,) of Bandita Mahapatra at Netaji Subash Enclave, Gadakana in Bhubaneswar.
- A residential triple-storeyed building of Bandita Mahapatra located over plot No. 1559/6001(subplot-98), Unit-19, Soubhagya Nagar in Bhubaneswar.
- A residential house of Bandita Mahapatra’s relative at Plot No. LIG/240, Housing Board Colony, Baramunda in Bhubaneswar.
- of Bandita Mahapatra’s paternal house at Khunta Ranibandh village under Khunta police limits in Mayurbhanj district.
- The office chamber of Bandita Mahapatra at the SDA Building in Sambalpur.
- The residential government quarter of Bandita Mahapatra’s in-law at District Headquarters Hospital in Angul.
Places of searches linked to Laxmi Narayan Samal.
- Quarter No. E-4/7, Old SBI Park Line, Burla, under Burla police limits in Sambalpur.
- A newly-constructed triple-storeyed building at Kantapali Mouza, Burla in Sambalpur.
- Samal’s Office chamber at SDA, Durgapali, Sambalpur.
The searches are in progress and a further report is awaited.
