Vigilance raids on offices, house of Panchayat Executive Officer

Bhubaneswar: The State Vigilance today conducted simultaneous raids on house and offices of Panchayat Executive Officer Trinath Sahoo on charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

The sleuths searched Sahoo's panchayat offices in Borabhata and Kendupati as he was in charge of the two panchayats. Besides, his residence in Mandirapada and brother's house were raided.

A three-storey house worth Rs 40 lakh, farmland of Rs 18 lakh and a car have been traced by the Vigilance personnel.

Yesterday, the sleuths had arrested the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) Mayurbhanj branch DGM Yashwant Choudhry for accepting Rs 3,000 bribe.

The DGM had demanded Rs, 5000 bribe from a local allegedly to make a bill for a rented vehicle at his office. Later, a trap was laid and Choudhry was caught red-handed by the Baripada Vigilance while he was accepting the bribe at his office.

In another development, the sleuths raided the office and houses of Balasore Road Transport Officer (RTO) Amresh Patra and acquisition and possession of property disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The team had conducted search operations simultaneously at nine places, including Patra's office and houses at Balasore, Khuntuni in Cuttack and his relative's house in Bhubaneswar.