IDCOL deputy manager arrested; DA worth over Rs 10 cr detected

The Vigilance officials on Thursday arrested Gaya Santara, deputy manager of IDCOL after disproportionate assets worth over Rs 10 crore were recovered from his possession following raids which were continuing for the past couple of days.

Odisha Vigilance Director, Yashwant Jethwa said that assets worth over Rs 10 crore were detected including Rs 1.06 crore cash from two locations in Bhubaneswar. The Vigilance team has also found Rs 4.45 crore deposited in 16 bank accounts in the name of Santara and his family members.

Apart from this, land records pertaining to 13 plots in Bhubaneswar, Nayagarh and Jajpur districts have also been unearthed. About 1.83 kg of gold and 6.750 kg of silver were also recovered from Santara’s residence in Bhubaneswar.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the total disproportionate assets owned by Santara and his family are 290 per cent more than his know sources of income. A detailed investigation regarding foreign tour and other issues are also being verified,” Jethwa added.

Performance of Odisha Vigilance

Odisha Vigilance has registered a total of 270 cases so far in 2022 and out of which 75 are disproportionate assets cases, 114 trap cases and rest are other corruption cases.

Of the total 270 cases, 60 have been registered against Class 1 officers which is the highest in the history of Odisha Vigilance in the last five years. The focus is now on senior-rank officials indulging in corruption.

The vigilance has also seized cash of over Rs 7 crore in 2022 which is also a record. The cash seized has been deposited in the relevant government account.

The Odisha Vigilance has also detected disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 160 crore so far in 2022. In trap cases too, the anti-corruption agency registered a huge seizure of cash.

(Reported by Alok Mohanty)