Bhubaneswar: Narottam Behera, former Regional Officer of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) in Balasore, who had been suspended on charges of corruption, was sent on compulsory retirement today.
A team of Odisha Vigilance had on October 9 intercepted Behera at Tangi check gate when he was proceeding towards Bhubaneswar in a rented SUV from Balasore.
A sum of Rs 89,290 was recovered from Behera, which he could not account for satisfactorily.
Following the interception, his office room and residential Government quarter at Balasore and his rented house at Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar were being searched.
Additional Rs 9,25,000 was recovered during the house search and Rs 6.35 lakh from the Government quarter taking the total seized amount to Rs 16.50 lakh. The search also unravelled one plot in the name of Behera at Raghunathpur.
Bank balances and investment in LIC policies and mutual funds by Behera and his family members have been ascertained to be about Rs 30 lakhs.
Odisha Vigilance has freezed all the lockers, Bank, Insurance, Postal deposit and fixed deposits in the name of Behera.
Land records of Behera and family members are being verified.
Behera was arrested on 10.10.2021 and forwarded to the Court and is presently in judicial custody.
The investigation of the case is in progress.
It is worthwhile to mention that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has continued his efforts to maintain integrity and morality in public life and to provide services to the people through a transparent, efficient, and accountable administration.
He has always stressed the importance of transparency in the administrative system. In view of this, the state government has taken a zero-tolerance policy against corrupt and incompetent officials.
In this context, the State Government today sent Behera on compulsory retirement due to incompetence and corruption. With this, around 132 officials have been awarded compulsory retirement by the State Government till date.
