Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance Department seized assets worth crores belonging to Sakuntala Das, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Dashmantpur Block in Koraput district. Das was arrested yesterday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000 from a newly appointed Anganwadi Helper.
Following her arrest on May 2, 2025, simultaneous searches were conducted at locations linked to Das and her family members.
The searches uncovered a vast array of assets, including:
- – Three buildings: a triple-storeyed building in Bhubaneswar’s Kaibalya Nagar (3300 sqft), a double-storeyed building in Similiguida, Koraput (2200 sqft), and an under-construction building in Bharatipur, Puri (2000 sqft)
- A homestead plot in Similiguida, Koraput
- Cash of Rs. 47,000 seized from her rented residence in Dashamantpur
- Fixed deposits worth Rs. 22.10 lakhs in various banks
- Nine bank accounts belonging to Das and her spouse are under scrutiny
- A four-wheeler (Mahindra XUV 500)
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge.
It is pertinent to mention that Vigilance sleuths apprehended Dashmantpur CDPO along with an Anganwadi Worker of Adhamunda Anganwadi Centre while they were demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000 from a newly appointed Anganwadi Helper in exchange for opening her personal file and releasing her salary.
Following her arrest, simultaneous searches were conducted at three locations linked to Das and one location linked to Khosla to investigate Disproportionate Assets (DA).
