Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday unearthed assets worth crores of rupees during simultaneous searches conducted in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case against Padmalochan Nayak, Executive Engineer of the Command Area Development Authority (CADA), Sambalpur Division.
According to an Odisha Vigilance press release, searches were carried out at seven locations linked to Nayak across Sambalpur, Cuttack, Balasore and Malkangiri districts on the strength of warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.
Among the assets detected so far are a triple-storeyed residential building measuring about 18,840 sq ft at Bidyadharpur in Cuttack, a double-storeyed house at Mukulisi under Basta police station in Balasore district, and another building at the same location.
The anti-corruption agency also traced 18 plots of land located in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur, Balasore and Puri districts. The valuation and measurement of the buildings and plots are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing.
During the searches, officials recovered cash worth Rs 3.45 lakh along with foreign currency notes from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bahrain and the United States. They also found two JCB machines, a Tata tanker, a TAFE tractor, a trailer, three four-wheelers, one two-wheeler and gold and household articles estimated to be worth around Rs 20 lakh.
Vigilance said Nayak is suspected to have visited Sri Lanka multiple times and may have engaged in gambling activities. The allegation is being verified.
The agency is examining Nayak to ascertain the source of the assets. Searches are still underway and the overall valuation is expected to increase as the investigation progresses.
Seven Vigilance teams comprising four DSPs, 13 inspectors, seven ASIs and other supporting staff participated in the operation.
Nayak joined government service in 1991 as a Junior Agriculture Engineer and was promoted to the rank of Executive Engineer in December 2023. He is currently serving as Executive Engineer, CADA Division, Sambalpur.
Vigilance officials said the enquiry is continuing.
