Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: In a major anti-corruption breakthrough, the Odisha Vigilance has seized more than ₹4 crore in cash from the flat of Debabrata Mohanty, Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle, following his arrest for allegedly accepting a ₹30,000 bribe from a licensed coal vendor.
The huge amount of cash, reportedly concealed in trolley bags and almirahs inside his residence, is being described as the highest-ever seizure in the history of Odisha Vigilance. Officials said the recovery was made during follow-up searches conducted after Mohanty was caught red-handed on Tuesday while receiving the bribe amount.
According to an official press note, Mohanty had allegedly demanded illegal gratification from a businessman in exchange for allowing the smooth functioning of his coal depot and granting permission for transportation of coal. Acting on a formal complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and apprehended the accused while he was accepting the bribe.
Subsequently, simultaneous searches were carried out at multiple properties linked to the officer, leading to the recovery of the massive unaccounted cash. Authorities are now investigating the source of the seized money and examining possible disproportionate assets. Further inquiry is underway to determine whether others were involved in the alleged corruption network.
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