Is Odisha’s record Rs 4 crore seizure the start of a bigger anti-graft storm?

Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday recorded the highest-ever cash seizure in its history, recovering more than Rs 4 crore from the Bhubaneswar flat of Debabrata Mohanty, Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle.

The massive recovery followed a trap operation in which Mohanty was allegedly caught accepting a Rs 30,000 bribe from a licensed coal vendor. What began as a routine trap case quickly escalated into a record-breaking anti-corruption action.

Cash Found in Trolley Bags, Almirahs

After apprehending the officer, Vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him, including:

His residential flat at Nature’s Crest Apartment, Shree Vihar, Patia, Bhubaneswar

His parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak district

His office chamber in Cuttack

During the search of his Bhubaneswar flat, officials discovered cash concealed inside trolley bags and almirahs, amounting to over Rs 4 crore. The exact total is being verified as counting continues.

In addition, Rs 1.20 lakh was recovered from his office drawer and from his personal possession.

Officials have termed the recovery unprecedented, making it the largest single cash seizure ever made by Odisha Vigilance.

How Today’s Seizure Compares with Past Major Recoveries

While Odisha Vigilance has carried out several significant anti-corruption raids in recent years, none had crossed the ₹4 crore mark — until now.

Some of the previous top cash seizures include:

Rs 3.41 crore from Kartikeswar Raul, Assistant Engineer, Minor Irrigation, Bhanjanagar (April 2022)

Rs 3.12 crore from Prasanta Kumar Rout, Additional Sub-Collector, Nawarangpur (June 2023)

Rs 2.56 crore from Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer, Plan Roads, RW Department (May 2025)

Rs 2.08 crore from Santanu Mohapatra, DD & PD, Watershed, Malkangiri (February 2025)

Rs 1.64 crore from Umesh Chandra Jena, Additional Director, Directorate of Mines (March 2023)

Rs 1.43 crore from Rama Chandra Nepak, Deputy Ranger, Jeypore Forest Range (July 2025)

Rs 1.40 crore from Ashish Kumar Das, SE, RW Division, Malkangiri (March 2022)

Rs 1.13 crore from Dr. Sukant Jena, Gynaecologist, Charichhaka CHC (February 2022)

Rs 1.06 crore from Gaya Santara, Joint Manager, IDCOL (December 2022)

Rs 1.01 crore from Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra, Ex-DFO, Athagarh (February 2016)

Until Wednesday’s action, the Rs 3.41 crore seizure in 2022 had stood among the highest recoveries in the state. The latest Rs 4 crore-plus haul now decisively surpasses all previous records.

Vigilance Drive Intensifies

The back-to-back high-value recoveries in recent years indicate an increasingly aggressive anti-corruption push across key departments including Mines, Roads, Revenue, Forest, and Health.

With the investigation still underway in the Mohanty case, further disclosures regarding assets and financial transactions are expected.

The record-breaking seizure not only marks a milestone for Odisha Vigilance but also signals a tougher stance against corruption in public offices.