Bhubaneswar: In a major anti-corruption drive, the Odisha Vigilance sleuths arrested Satyajit Rout, Deputy Director (Geology)-cum-Deputy Director of Mines, Jeypore, Koraput district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh.
Rout was caught red-handed while demanding and receiving the bribe from a leaseholder. The bribe was intended to secure the grant of extension of a mining lease period and to extend other undue benefits in upcoming spot auctions of sand sources.
The entire tainted amount of Rs 2 lakh was recovered from his possession and seized on the spot. Following the successful trap, vigilance teams conducted simultaneous raids at his three residences — Lingaraj Nagar in Jeypore, Bidyadharpur in Cuttack, and Olakana in Mahanga, Cuttack — from the disproportionate assets angle.
During the searches, additional unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 2.90 lakh was unearthed from his Jeypore residence and seized. The total cash recovery now stands at Rs 4.90 lakh.
A case has been registered at Koraput Vigilance Police Station vide Case No. 14/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is underway.
Further details are awaited.
