Odisha Assistant Mining Officer with wealth 167% of known income arrested by vigilance

The Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested Padmanav Hota, Assistant Mining Officer, Keonjhar, whose properties were raided yesterday.

Following his arrest, the officials produced him in the court of Special Judge, Vigilance in Bhubaneswar. 

As per the press note released by the Vigilance Directorate, Hota was found to be possessing disproportionate assets (DA) to the tune of 167% of his known sources of income, which he could not account for satisfactorily.

In this connection, a case (Vigilance Cell PS Case No.14) was registered against Hota and his spouse U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b)/12 PC (Amendment) Act, 2018.

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During house searches, the following movable and immovable assets were unearthed in the name of the Assistant Mining Officer, Keonjhar and his family members:

1) One four-storied building with an area of 5,800 Sqft. located at Karodakanta, Bhubaneswar.

2) One double-storied building with an area of 10,000 Sqft. located at Jagannathpur, Keonjhar.

3) One building at located at Jamadeipur Sasan, PS-Tamka, Dist: Jajpur.

4) Two benami flats in Puri.

5) One farmhouse spread over 5 acres of land located at Madanpur under Ghasipura Tahasil, Dist-Keonjhar with civil construction. The cost of civil construction and other assets in the farmhouse stands at Rs.70 Lakhs.

6) 15 numbers of plots of which four are in prime areas of Bhubaneswar & Cuttack, one in Jajpur road and 10 in Danagadi, Jajpur.

7) Bank, Insurance & Postal deposits and investment in Mutual funds approx Rs.54,00,000/-.

8) Gold jewellery weighing approx 300 gms.

9) One four-wheeler & two two-wheelers.

10) Household articles worth around Rs.27,47,977. 

After a thorough search, inventory and further inquiry, the income, expenditure and assets of Hota, were calculated and he was found in possession of disproportionate assets which were 167% in excess of his known sources of income. 

A detailed investigation of the case is in progress.