Bhubaneswar, December 31: The Odisha Vigilance Department has unearthed disproportionate assets (DA) worth Rs 131 crore and registered over 200 criminal cases in 2024.
As per a statement, the year-long crackdown resulted in the apprehension of 181 individuals, including high-ranking government officials, signaling the agency’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
Among the 50 Class-I officers booked were six chief engineers, a joint commissioner of excise, a deputy director of fisheries, and two assistant commissioners of commercial taxes and GST. Other notable arrests included a jail superintendent, a sub-collector, two tahasildars, and two block development officers (BDOs). Additionally, 19 engineers, 22 revenue officials, 20 officials from the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department (PR&DW), nine police officers, five doctors, and several others were arrested for corruption-related charges.
The Vigilance Department registered 60 DA cases, revealing assets worth over Rs 131 crore—one of the highest figures in recent years. Bribery cases also saw significant action, with 96 trap cases leading to the arrest of 115 individuals, including 99 government officers, for accepting bribes totaling Rs 19.25 lakh.
As part of its operations, the agency conducted searches at 483 locations and froze 792 bank accounts linked to corrupt public servants. The evaluation of 194 buildings and projects valued at approximately Rs 27.03 crore provided further evidence of illicit wealth. Notably, 38 spouses were named co-accused in DA cases, underlining the intricate networks of corruption.
The Odisha Vigilance Department achieved a remarkable 154 per cent disposal rate, completing investigations in 307 cases. The department also recorded a 50 per cent conviction rate across all cases, with DA cases reaching an impressive 80% conviction rate. These outcomes led to the dismissal of 25 government officials from their respective positions.
