Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday night intercepted two auditors of the ST & SC Department of the Odisha government and recovered a total of Rs 14,38,340 in suspected ill-gotten cash from their possession in Baripada.
The deceased auditors have been identified as Prasanta Kumar Pradhan and Pragyan Prakash Patra.
Acting on credible information, the vigilance team intercepted the duo late on September 10 while they were travelling from the District Welfare Office (DWO), Baripada, to their place of stay at Mohapatra Hotel on Roxy Lane in the official Scorpio vehicle of the DWO after completing audit work. During the interception, cash amounting to Rs 5,51,510 — kept in 52 envelopes and 20 loose bundles — was recovered from them. The auditors could not satisfactorily explain the source of the money. A subsequent search of their hotel rooms led to the recovery of an additional Rs 8,86,830. The entire amount of ₹14,38,340 has been seized.
According to a release issued by the Odisha Vigilance, the two auditors had been stationed in Baripada since August 30, 2026, to conduct the audit of the DWO office. They later took up the audit of Ashram schools, Sevashrams, high schools, higher secondary schools and SSD hostels under the SC/ST Department. They had directed headmasters and hostel in-charges to report at Baripada along with school and hostel files and registers.
Vigilance authorities had received allegations that the auditors were demanding Rs 10 per enrolled student as bribe to ensure a smooth audit of the institutions. After the allegation was confirmed, the interception was carried out.
The auditors are currently being interrogated to ascertain the source of the funds.
Searches have also been launched at locations connected to them from the disproportionate assets (DA) angle. Searches are continuing, and further details are awaited.
Odisha Vigilance has stated that a detailed report will follow.
