Ex-Sambalpur Development Authority planning member in vigilance net

The Vigilance department officials raided places linked to former planning member of Sambalpur Development Authority (SDA), Bandita Mahapatra on Tuesday suspected to amass property disproportionate to her known source of income.

As per the reports, multiple vigilance teams are conducting simultaneous raids at Mahapatra’s residential apartment at Gadakana in Bhubaneswar, residential triple storeyed building located at Soubhagya Nagar in Bhubaneswar, residential house of her relative at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar, her paternal house at Khunta Ranibandh in Mayurbhanj, office chamber at SDA building in Sambalpur and residential government quarters of her in-law at District Headquarters Hospital in Angul.

Apart from Mahapatra, raids were also carried out at places linked to an SDA Junior Clerk (Contractual) Laxmi Narayan Samal for disproportionate assets.

Raided places linked to Samal included his government quarters at Burla in Sambalpur, newly constructed triple storeyed building at Kantapali Mouza at Burla and at his office chamber at SDA in Sambalpur.

As per the vigilance sources, simultaneous searches were carried out by six DSPs, nine Inspectors, six ASIs and other staff.

It is pertinent to mention here that both Mahapatra and Samal were arrested earlier in September, 2023 by Sambalpur Police for forgery and issue of fake approval letters of building plans to applicants.

Mahapatra was granted bail on December 6.