Bhubaneswar, June 6: Odisha Vigilance has unearthed assets worth several crores of rupees during simultaneous raids conducted on properties linked to Baikuntha Nath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Baliguda in Kandhamal district, in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case.
The searches were carried out at nine locations associated with Behera in Bhubaneswar, Baripada, Dharmasala in Jajpur district and Baliguda following allegations that he possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
During the ongoing investigation, Vigilance officials have so far identified five buildings, including four luxurious structures in Bhubaneswar. These include a sprawling 10,500-square-foot four-storeyed building in Niladri Vihar, a triple-storeyed building in Sailashree Vihar, a double-storeyed building in Kanan Vihar, and another double-storeyed house in Chandrasekharpur. A fifth double-storeyed building was found on ancestral land at Dharmasala in Jajpur district.
Investigators have also traced 13 high-value plots. Seven of these are located in prime areas of Bhubaneswar, including Chandrasekharpur, Sailashree Vihar, Ghatikia and Bomikhal. Five plots were found in Dharmasala, while one plot is located in Baripada.
Apart from immovable assets, Vigilance officials seized ₹2.66 lakh in cash during the raids. Gold jewellery recovered from various premises is being weighed and assessed. Two bank lockers operated in the name of Behera’s spouse are yet to be opened and examined.
Officials are also scrutinising bank accounts, postal savings, investments and other financial holdings. The Vigilance Technical Wing has been tasked with measuring and evaluating the market value of the buildings and plots.
Behera, 52, joined government service as a Junior Engineer in 1999 with a monthly salary of ₹6,000. He was promoted to Assistant Engineer in 2016 and elevated to the post of Assistant Executive Engineer in February 2026 before being posted at ITDA, Baliguda.
The searches are still underway, and Vigilance officials expect more details to emerge as the investigation progresses.
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