Bhubaneswar, 10 July (H.S.): Pusha Munda, Chief Civil Supplies Officer (CCSO)-cum-District Manager of Odisha State Civil Supply Corporation Ltd. (OSCSL), Ganjam, Chhatrapur, was arrested by Odisha Vigilance in an interception case involving the possession of unaccounted cash amounting to ₹3 lakhs. The officer was intercepted by a Vigilance team on July 9 near Science College, NH-16, Chhatrapur, while traveling from his rented residence to Berhampur in his official Bolero vehicle. Upon interception, the team recovered ₹3,00,000 in suspected ill-gotten cash from his possession, for which he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. The cash and the vehicle were subsequently seized.

Following the interception, simultaneous searches were carried out at Sri Munda’s rented residence in Chhatrapur, his permanent house in Bhawanipatna, and his office chamber at Chhatrapur. During the raids, Odisha Vigilance unearthed several movable and immovable assets in the name of Sri Munda and his family members. These include a three-storeyed building (approx. 5000 sqft) in Bhawanipatna town, one homestead plot in Bhawanipatna, and a large parcel of land comprising 10 plots measuring around 19 acres on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna, reportedly purchased in 2023. Additionally, the assets include one four-wheeler (Suzuki Ciaz ZXI), two two-wheelers, and one benami two-wheeler registered in the name of a local rice miller.

A case under Berhampur Vigilance PS Case No. 11 dated 09.07.2025 has been registered against Sri Pusha Munda under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The accused is being forwarded to the Hon’ble Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda