Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, the Odisha Vigilance team has unearthed over ₹4 crore in cash from the flat of Debabrata Mohanty, Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle, following his arrest for accepting a Rs 30,000 bribe from a licensed coal vendor.
Notably, the cash, concealed in trolley bags and almirahs, is the highest ever seized in the history of Odisha Vigilance.
According to an official press note, Mohanty was caught red-handed on Tuesday, while taking the bribe from the businessman. The accused had allegedly demanded the illegal gratification in exchange for allowing the smooth functioning of the complainant’s coal depot and for granting permission to transport coal.
Acting on a complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and apprehended Mohanty at the time of the transaction. The entire tainted bribe amount of Rs 30,000 was recovered from his possession and subsequently seized in the presence of witnesses.
Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at his Bhubaneswar flat, parental home in Bhadrak, and office chamber in Cuttack to probe possible accumulation of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The vigilance team also recovered Rs 1.20 lakh from his office drawer and possession.
Other assets seized include a palatial double-storeyed building in Pahala, Bhubaneswar, and approximately 130gms of gold.
Further updates are awaited as searches are ongoing.
