Odisha Vigilance seizes over Rs 4 crore from mines official’s flat in record cash haul

In what officials have described as the highest-ever cash seizure in the history of Odisha Vigilance, the anti-corruption agency on Wednesday recovered more than Rs 4 crore from the Bhubaneswar flat of Debabrata Mohanty, Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle.

Mohanty was apprehended a day earlier in a trap operation while allegedly accepting a ₹30,000 bribe from a licensed coal vendor. Following his arrest, Vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him, including his residential flat at Nature’s Crest Apartment in Shree Vihar, Patia, his parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak district, and his office chamber in Cuttack.

During the ongoing raids, officials recovered the massive cash amount concealed in trolley bags and almirahs inside his Bhubaneswar flat. The seized money is currently being counted to ascertain the exact total amount. In addition, Rs 1.20 lakh was recovered from the accused’s office drawer and from his personal possession.

The Vigilance team has also detected other assets, including a double-storeyed building measuring approximately 2,400 square feet at Pahala in Bhubaneswar and around 130 grams of gold.

Also Read: Odisha Mines Dept Deputy Director caught taking Rs 30,000 bribe; Vigilance conducts raids

Search operations are still underway, and officials stated that further details will be shared as the investigation progresses.