Vigilance sleuths on Saturday arrested Biranchi Narayan Sahoo, the Private Secretary to a Member of Odisha the Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) on charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income following raids at different locations on Friday.
The officials have recovered Rs 25 lakh cash and detected a total property worth over Rs 3.79 crore during simultaneous searches conducted at multiple locations linked to Sahoo in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and four other places.
Probing sleuths recovered Rs 12 lakh cash from the residence of Sahoo and Rs 13 lakh from the house of his brother-in-law. Besides, they recovered gold ornaments from his house worth around Rs 60 lakh.
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These apart, documents of four buildings including two double-storey apartments were also unearthed. The State anti-corruption agency also found documents related to Sahoo's foreign visits and 14 plots registered in the name of the public servant and his family members.
The officials also seized insurance papers worth Rs 56 lakh and other imported goods. Much recruitment-related application forms and admit cards were also recovered.
The recovery of the huge amount of cash and property worth crores of rupees from Sahoo’s residence has raised serious eyebrows with many suspecting the official having been involved in illegal practices in the recruitment process of the State Staff Selection Commission.
Meanwhile OSSC chairman Nirmal Mishra said action will be taken against private secretary Sahoo if he is found guilty.
“All the examinations of OSSC are conducted with sanctity. Sahoo is not involved with the examination process. A probe is on about the recovery of the recruitment-related application forms and admit cards from his residence. Action will be taken against him if he is found guilty,” said Mishra.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)