Odisha Vigilance uncovers ₹1.97 crore in cash during raids on watershed official

Bhubaneswar, Feb 5: The Odisha Vigilance today recovered approximately Rs 1.97 crore in cash during raids at properties linked to Santanu Mohapatra, the deputy director and project director of the Watershed in Malkangiri. Mohapatra is under investigation for allegedly accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The Vigilance teams, led by two Additional Superintendents of Police (SPs), four Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), ten inspectors, six Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), and other supporting staff, conducted simultaneous searches at seven locations in Malkangiri, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar based on search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Jeypore.

In addition to the significant cash recovery, authorities also discovered a multi-storey building covering over 6,000 square feet in Jeypore, four high-value plots in Bhubaneswar and Jeypore, and 300 grams of gold. The Vigilance Technical Wing is currently measuring and assessing the value of the building and plots, while investigations into bank accounts, insurance, and other deposits are ongoing.

The raids took place at several locations, including Mohapatra's triple-storey residential building in Jeypore, the homes of various associates in Malkangiri, and a relative's house in Bhubaneswar.