Odisha Vigilance officials have detained Prasanjit Das, Superintending Engineer of the Mahanadi Northern Division in Jagatpur, Cuttack, after recovering ₹21.88 lakh in suspected unaccounted cash during a late-night operation in Bhubaneswar. The action followed intelligence inputs alleging that he was collecting bribes from contractors.
Investigators are questioning him to establish the source of the cash and determine whether the alleged bribe collection involved contractors or transactions linked to projects handled by his division. The allegations remain under investigation, and the seizure does not by itself establish guilt.
A Wider Pattern of Vigilance Action
The case involving Prasanjit Das comes amid a series of anti-corruption investigations targeting government officials across Odisha. In October 2026, Vigilance arrested Executive Engineer Arabinda Mohanty after searches reportedly uncovered 23 plots, buildings, a farmhouse and other assets. Earlier, in February, the agency recovered more than ₹4 crore in cash during an investigation involving Deputy Director of Mines Debabrata Mohanty, who was allegedly caught accepting a ₹30,000 bribe. Other recent cases involving engineers have resulted in the discovery of substantial cash holdings, property portfolios and bank deposits. While the allegations and evidence differ from case to case, the investigations underscore the importance of scrutinising unexplained wealth and possible links between public officials and private contractors.
Such cases illustrate the agency's use of surveillance, surprise interception, simultaneous searches and financial scrutiny to investigate suspected corruption.
Recent similar cases in Odisha
1. Arabinda Mohanty — Executive Engineer, October 2026
Roads and Buildings Department, Betnoti
Odisha Vigilance arrested Mohanty in a disproportionate-assets case after searches at multiple locations reportedly uncovered 21 high-value plots, buildings, a farmhouse, gold, bank deposits and cash. Investigators also examined property documents allegedly recovered from a contractor's premises.
2. Umakant Samantaray — Assistant Director, October 2026
Factories and Boilers Department, Sambalpur
Samantaray was arrested after Vigilance searches allegedly revealed assets valued at 248% of his known sources of income. The reported assets included four multi-storey buildings, a flat, 30 plots, gold ornaments and financial deposits.
3. Debabrata Mohanty — Deputy Director of Mines, February 2026
Cuttack Circle, Mines Department
In one of Odisha's biggest reported cash seizures, Vigilance officials allegedly caught Mohanty accepting a ₹30,000 bribe from a licensed coal trader. Subsequent searches reportedly recovered more than ₹4 crore in unaccounted cash, along with gold and property-related documents.
4. Baikuntha Nath Behera — Assistant Executive Engineer, June 2026
Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Baliguda
Vigilance arrested Behera in a disproportionate-assets case after searches reportedly uncovered multiple buildings, land plots, gold, bank deposits and substantial cash, including nearly ₹2 crore in bank lockers and additional cash at his residence.
5. Anupama Sahoo — Assistant Executive Engineer, September 2026
Drainage Division, Kendrapada
Officials intercepted Sahoo's vehicle following a tip-off and reportedly recovered ₹3.15 lakh in suspected ill-gotten cash. A subsequent search at her residence yielded another ₹4 lakh. Investigators also identified ₹63 lakh in deposits, five plots and other assets.
Accountability Must Extend Beyond Seizures
The recovery of ₹21.88 lakh has placed the spotlight on alleged contractor-linked corruption in a senior engineering office. However, the wider significance of the case will depend on whether investigators can establish the origin of the money, identify any beneficiaries and substantiate the allegations with documentary and financial evidence.
Effective anti-corruption enforcement requires more than the recovery of unexplained cash. A transparent investigation, evidence-based prosecution and timely legal proceedings are essential to ensure accountability while protecting the principle that every accused person is entitled to due process.
(With agency inputs)
