Odisha Vigilance arrests Excise Joint Commissioner for asset discrepancies

Bhubaneswar, July 30: Odisha Vigilance today arrested Rama Chandra Mishra, the Joint Commissioner of Excise in Bhubaneswar, on charges of accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income. The 59-year-old officer is accused of possessing assets that are disproportionate to his earnings, which include six multi-storey buildings, two flats in Bhubaneswar and Bargarh, 52 plots of land, and 230 grams of gold.

During a series of coordinated searches, officials discovered various properties linked to Mishra. These include two plots in Sambalpur, three in Balangir, and 47 in Sonepur. Additionally, the searches revealed a duplex in Aiginia, a 2-BHK flat in Kharavela Nagar in Bhubaneswar, another 2-BHK flat in Bargarh, two triple-storey buildings in Balangir, a double-storey building in Burla, and single-storey buildings in Balangir and Sonepur. The operations also uncovered a non-operational rice mill in Tarbha, a farmhouse in Sonepur, bank deposits totaling Rs 22 lakh, and 317 grams of silver.

According to the release, Mishra began his career as an Inspector of Excise in 2009, was promoted to Superintendent of Excise in 2018, and advanced to Deputy Commissioner in 2021. His latest promotion to Joint Commissioner of Excise occurred in January 2024, with his posting at the Directorate of Excise, IPICOL Tower, Bhubaneswar.