The Odisha Vigilance department on Tuesday arrested the Tehsildar of Nimapara Tehsil and his brother on charges of accumulating movable and immovable property through corrupt means.
The Vigilance sleuths carried out simultaneous raids at the multiple houses and property of the government servant and in-charge Sub-Registrar of Nimapara in Puri district, Ramachandra Jena, since the early hours on Tuesday.
The anti-corruption sleuths recovered Rs 4,65,000 from his possession during inspection while he was on his way to office. After extensive search at his properties, the Vigilance sleuths traced Rs 50,000 more from his official residence. As many as five PAN cards on his name containing different numbers were also confiscated. Interestingly, in three of the forged PAN cards, Ramachandra had used different names of his father. He was subsequently put under arrest.
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Following interrogation of Ramachandra, the Vigilance rounded up Ramachandra’s younger brother Laxman Jena in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case after it was revealed that the latter was hand-in-glove in managing the illegal lakhs collected by his elder brother.
Laxman allegedly admitted during interrogation that he earlier worked as a helper in a truck and then became a truck driver before operating a Mo Bus. However, he went jobless recently.
He also confessed that in September this year, his brother (Ramachandra) had called him to Nimapara and gave him away Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh in three tranches which he had deposited in a private bank.
On Monday too, Ramachandra had allegedly asked Laxman to come to Nimapara where he was planning to hand over another Rs 4 lakh to him. However, Ramachandra ran out of luck and before the meeting could take place, the Vigilance sleuths busted him.
Vigilance officials have reportedly confiscated the passbook of the said bank account.
Further investigation into the case is underway.