Odisha Vigilance Arrests Irrigation Engineer for Possessing Crore-Rupee Assets
In a significant crackdown on corruption, vigilance officers in Kendrapada district arrested the assistant executive engineer of the Derabish irrigation sub-division under the Kendrapada irrigation division on Sunday. The arrest was made following the discovery of substantial disproportionate assets that the official could not satisfactorily explain.
Extensive Searches Reveal Valuable Properties
Vigilance teams conducted thorough searches on the properties belonging to Pramod Kumar Ray on Saturday, which led to the uncovering of assets far beyond his known sources of income. The seized properties include two multi-storeyed buildings of considerable value and size.
Key findings from the searches:
- A multi-storeyed building located in Bhubaneswar covering an extensive area of 8,000 square feet
- A double-storeyed building situated in Choudwar with an approximate area of 5,200 square feet
- Two separate plots of land in Bhubaneswar and Choudwar
- Cash amounting to Rs 4.48 lakh discovered during the operation
- Bank deposits totaling Rs 39.21 lakh that the engineer failed to account for properly
Legal Action Initiated Under Anti-Corruption Laws
The Cuttack vigilance police station has registered case number 10/2026 against Pramod Kumar Ray in connection with these findings. The case has been filed under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, which empowers authorities to take action against public servants who accumulate wealth disproportionate to their legitimate income.
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by vigilance authorities in Odisha to combat corruption among government officials. The investigation revealed that Ray could not provide satisfactory explanations for the substantial assets discovered during the searches, leading to his detention and the formal registration of the corruption case.
The vigilance department's action demonstrates their commitment to identifying and prosecuting public servants who engage in corrupt practices and accumulate wealth through illicit means. Such operations serve as a deterrent to other officials who might consider misusing their positions for personal financial gain.
