Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance today arrested two auditors of the ST & SC Department in an interception case for carrying suspected ill-gotten cash of over Rs 14.38 lakh.
The accused have been identified as Prasanta Kumar Pradhan and Pragyan Prakash Patra, both Auditors of the ST/SC Department. They will be forwarded to the Special Judge, Vigilance, Baripada.
In this connection, Vigilance has registered two cases under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b) of PC (Amendment) Act, 2018.According to Vigilance, based on inputs regarding collection of bribes from in-charges of Ashram Schools and SSD Hostels of the SC/ST Department in Mayurbhanj district, a team kept a close watch over the movement and activities of both auditors.
On Wednesday, the duo was intercepted while on their way from the DWO office, Baripada to their place of stay at Mohapatra Hotel at Roxy Lane, Baripada by the office Scorpio of DWO after completing audit work. During interception, suspected ill-gotten cash of Rs 5,51,510 in 52 envelopes and 20 loose bundles was found from their possession.
Following this, search was conducted at their hotel rooms, where further cash of Rs 8,86,830 was unearthed. As they could not account for the huge cash, the total amount of Rs 14,38,340 was seized.
Following the interception, simultaneous searches were launched at the government residential quarter of Pradhan located at Qr. No. F-42, Unit-7, Suryanagar, Bhubaneswar and government residential quarter of Patra located at Qr. No. E-28, Baramunda Telco Colony, Bhubaneswar.
Vigilance said the auditor duo was at Baripada since August 30, 2026 for conduct of audit of DWO Office, Baripada. They had taken up audit of Ashram, Sevashram, High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools, and SSD Hostels under the SC/ST Department and had directed Headmasters and in-charges to report at Baripada along with files and registers.
Allegations were received that the auditors demanded Rs 10 per enrolled student as bribe from school/hostel authorities to ensure smooth audit. After confirming the allegation, they were intercepted.
