A 53-year-old deputy manager with the state-run Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Limited was arrested by vigilance officials on Wednesday for amassing disproportionate assets of ₹14.87 crore.
A senior vigilance official aware of the development said that they suspected Pratap Samal allegedly owning at least 25 plots, and three buildings including a 5-storey building in Bhubaneswar. The official had bank deposits of ₹1.61 crore and paid an annual insurance premium of nearly ₹57.72 lakh.
When Samal and his wife Sasmita couldn’t explain the source of the assets, the latter has also been charged with abetting her husband, the official said.
“This is the highest-ever seizure of disproportionate assets by a state government official,” a second vigilance official said. He underlined that the ₹14.87 crore figure was the acquisition value of the assets as is the norm for disproportionate assets cases, and not the market value which would be much higher.
Director Vigilance Yeshwant Jethwa said his officials are committed to taking stronger actions against corruption in the coming days.
“We have a proficient pool of skilled Investigators, a legal team comprising legal advisors, counsels, a financial wing with CAs (chartered accountants), banking officers for an in-depth analysis of financial transactions, a technical wing comprising civil engineers for valuation of properties. We are going to use the latest technology for investigations,” said Jethwa.
