DA Case: Vigilance Arrests PEO For Possessing Assets Worth Over Rs 1 Crore

The Vigilance wing of the Odisha Police on Tuesday unearthed assets worth around a whopping Rs 1.12 Crore owned by Achyutananda Khuntia, the Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Jhankarpali Gram Panchayat in Sambalpur district.

Four teams of the anti-corruption wing led by 2 DSsP, 3 Inspectors, 2 ASIs and other staff on the strength of search warrants raided various locations to trace the illegal wealth accumulated by the officer.

During the raids, Khuntia was found possessing one double-storeyed building at Maulibandhapada, Kuchinda, Dist - Sambalpur, one single ACC sheet building at Subarnapali, Dist-Sambalpur, 3 nos of stall at Subarnapali, Dist-Sambalpur.

This apart, he also has two nos of plots at Kuchinda and Sankarma in Sambalpur district, 1 two-wheeler, Insurance deposits over Rs.10.43 Lakh, Bank deposits over Rs.1.15 Lakh and other movable and immovable properties totaling to over Rs 1.12 Crore.

The Vigilance said that after a thorough search, inventory, and further inquiry, the income, expenditure, and assets of Khuntia were calculated and he was found in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of 215% of his known sources of income.

The PEO could not satisfactorily explain the sources of his immense gains and based on Sambalpur Vigilance P.S. Case No.44 dt.6.12.2021 on his name and against his spouse U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b)/12 Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act-2018, Khuntia was arrested and forwarded to the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance.

The Court has remanded him to judicial custody till 18.12.2021, the Vigilance said in a press note.