The Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OPHWC) has suspended one of its senior officer and Deputy Manager, Pratap Samal who has been arrested by the State Vigilance over a DA case.
Pratap Kumar Samal, Dy. Manager (Civil) presently working at Head Office in Estimate Section as Dy. Manager (Estimate) is placed under suspension w.e.f. 10.11.2021 in connection with Vigilance P.S. Case No. 34 dated 10.11.2021 and forwarded to the judicial Custody, the OPHWC said in a notice on Thursday.
Post suspension, Samal will draw normal D.A. & Suspension Allowance during the period of suspension. He has been attached to Head Quarter Cuttack Division and ordered not to leave the Head Quarter without permission of the Controlling Officer i.e. Project Manager.
He will report to the Project manager, Cuttack Division after release from Judicial Custody, the notice said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Samal was arrested by the Vigilance on charges of amassing movable and immovable assets pegged at over Rs 14 crore.
The seizure of his property which is said to be the biggest ever catch by the State's anti-corruption agency is reportedly over 1021 per cent of the public servant’s known sources of income.
The Vigilance traced Rs 38 lakh cash, 25 plots and several buildings to his name at various locations in Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak and Balasore, the total valuation of which are worth in crores.
In a major revelation earlier today, the Vigilance also unearthed that Samal and his wife Sasmita had produced two Odia movies - 2003 Siddhanta Mohapatra starrer hit 'Nari Akhire Nia' and multi starrer 'Bazi' in 2005.
In a factsheet, the Vigilance has highlighted several cases of corruption against Samal during his stints in different departments of the government.
Samal was suspended on 16.01.2001 for execution of sub-standard work/ bad workmanship and negligence in duty in respect of Construction work of Rest Room-cum-Toilet at Simulia & Soro along with other works in the Districts of Balasore & Bhadrak.
A Departmental Proceeding was also drawn on 08.06.2016 against Samal during his incumbency as Dy. Mg. under Bhubaneswar Division for unauthorized Construction of Second Floor of the Ladies Hostel at Prision Academy Jamujhari incurring loss worth Rs.193.76 lakh.
Likewise, a Departmental Proceedings was again drawn for his misbehavior with Chief Engineer during his incumbency as A.P.M, Bhubaneswar on 08.12.2006, the Vigilance said.