Bhubaneswar, 12 October (H.S.): Odisha Vigilance on Monday launched simultaneous searches at seven locations linked to Jayadev Jena, Assistant Block Education Officer (ABEO) of Dharmasala in Jajpur district, over allegations that he had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The searches are being conducted by Odisha Vigilance teams comprising three Additional Superintendents of Police, four Deputy Superintendents of Police, nine Inspectors and other supporting personnel. The operation is being carried out on the strength of search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur.

The searches are underway at seven locations across Bhubaneswar, Ganjam and Jajpur districts, including three residential buildings, two houses belonging to his relatives, a rented residential house and his office chamber.

According to preliminary findings, Vigilance teams have so far unearthed three multi-storey buildings, including a palatial building in Bhubaneswar, 19 valuable plots, one four-wheeler and two two-wheelers.

The properties identified during the searches include a triple-storey building measuring approximately 4,300 square feet at Patrapada in Bhubaneswar; a double-storey building measuring around 3,850 square feet at P. Nuagaon in Ganjam district; and another building measuring approximately 7,100 square feet at the same location.

Vigilance officials have also identified 19 valuable plots in Bhubaneswar and Khalikote and Kodala in Ganjam district. The measurement and valuation of the buildings and plots are being carried out by the Technical Wing of Odisha Vigilance.

The teams are also examining gold jewellery, the weight of which is being ascertained. Details of bank deposits and other investments in financial instruments are being verified as part of the investigation.

A Tata Nexon car and two two-wheelers have also been identified during the searches.

The seven locations under investigation include the triple-storey building at Patrapada in Bhubaneswar, two buildings at P. Nuagaon in Ganjam district, the house of a relative at Burujhari in Ganjam, another relative’s house at Janani Vihar in Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, a rented residential house at Jarka in Jajpur district, and Jena’s office chamber at Jarka.

The searches were continuing at the time of the latest update, and further details are expected as the investigation progresses.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda