Bhubaneswar, 12 March (H.S.): In a major anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance officials on Thursday arrested Prasanna Samantaray, Tahsildar of Kantapara, on charges of possessing disproportionate assets worth several crores.

Samantaray, an Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, was taken into custody and is scheduled to be produced before the Special Judge, Vigilance, in Cuttack.

According to Vigilance officials, simultaneous searches at multiple properties linked to the officer revealed substantial assets suspected to be disproportionate to his known sources of income. The searches uncovered two multi-storeyed buildings and seven high-value plots located in Bhubaneswar, along with cash amounting to Rs 2.17 lakh.

Authorities suspect that the assets were accumulated through corrupt practices. The seized properties and financial records are currently under detailed scrutiny as part of the investigation.

A case (Cuttack Vigilance Police Station Case No. 12/2026) has been registered against Samantaray under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018. Vigilance officials said further investigation is underway to examine his financial transactions and determine the full extent of the alleged irregularities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda