From Bharatmala to Amrit Sarovar project, tainted OAS officer Prashant Rout’s corruption list goes on

As the Vigilance team finished counting currency notes worth Rs 3.02 crores seized during raid on OAS officer Prashant Rout, his trail of corruption in Nabarangpur district has come to the fore.

It is alleged that Rout, who is currently posted as the additional sub-collector of Nabarangpur, had shown undue sympathy to local contractors in awarding them jobs under the Bharatmala project and Amrit Sarovar project in the district.

allegations are also being made that Rout had furnished fake documents and never held 'gram sabhas' neither took permission from the Pollution Board to help contractors loot stone mines under the Amrit Sarovar project at Shitaladangari, Kopena, and Kesaribeda villages in Burja Panchayat.

“No gram sabha was organized for this purpose. The sub-collector said a letter from the Sarpanch and ward members consent was required. We gave the letter to Bharatmala Project authorities,” said Sarpanch of Burja Panchayat, Niladri Majhi.

However, no comments could be obtained from Rout on the allegations.

Rout landed in Vigilance net for amassing disproportionate assets after the sleuths of the anti-corruption agency on Friday raided the official, residential and other premises of the official.

Cash worth over Rs 3.02 crore stashed in six cartons was seized from the rooftop of Prasanta Rout's neighbour during a raid at Kanan Vihar in Bhubaneswar.

In 2018, Rout was arrested by the Vigilance officials for demanding bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a panchayat executive officer while he was the BDO in Sundargarh district. He is now accused of being hand in glove with several illegal stone mining mafia and has taken hefty commissions from them.