Bhubaneswar, 06 June (H.S.): Odisha Vigilance on Saturday carried out simultaneous searches at nine locations associated with Sri Baikuntha Nath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Baliguda, Kandhamal district, in connection with allegations of possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The raids were conducted on the strength of search warrants issued by the Hon’ble Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar. A Vigilance team comprising two Additional Superintendents of Police, five Deputy Superintendents of Police, six Inspectors and other supporting personnel carried out the operation across Bhubaneswar, Baripada, Dharmasala in Jajpur district and Baliguda in Kandhamal district.

As part of the investigation, Vigilance officials searched multiple properties allegedly linked to Sri Behera, including a four-storeyed residential building at Niladri Vihar in Chandrasekharpur, a three-storeyed building at Sailashree Vihar, a double-storeyed house at Kanan Vihar in Patia, and another double-storeyed residential property at Chandrasekharpur, all located in Bhubaneswar. Searches were also conducted at a double-storeyed building constructed on ancestral land at Pandua near Dharmasala College in Jajpur district.

In addition, the residences of two relatives of the engineer—one at Deula Sahi in Baripada and another at Pandua in Jajpur district—were brought under the Vigilance scanner. The investigating team also searched Sri Behera’s office chamber at the Office of the Special Officer, ITDA, Baliguda, along with his official government residence located near the ITDA office in Baliguda.

According to Vigilance sources, the searches form part of an ongoing inquiry into allegations that the engineer amassed assets beyond his known and lawful sources of income. Officials are examining documents, financial records, bank details, movable and immovable properties, and other materials relevant to the investigation.

The value of the assets unearthed during the searches is yet to be officially disclosed. Odisha Vigilance is expected to release further details after the completion of the search operation and assessment of the assets detected during the investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda