Odisha: ADM arrested in disproportionate assets case sent to jail for 14 days

Bhubaneswar: The Special Judge Vigilance Court in Bhubaneswar today sent Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Sundargarh, Biswajit Mohapatra, who has been arrested for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets, to a 14-day judicial custody.

After Mohapatra’s arrest today, the Vigilance produced him before the Special Vigilance Court. However, the agency probing financial irregularities did not seek remand of the ADM, Sundargarh.

The court has fixed its next hearing on the case on February 27.

Based on the allegation of possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income by Mohapatra, the State Vigilance conducted simultaneous house searches at seven places in Khordha, Sundargarh, and Jagatsinghpur districts.

The raids were conducted at the residential house of Mohapatra located at Rudrapur, Balianta, Bhubaneswar; flat located at Ashiana Apartment, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar; house at native Village- Redhua, Raghunathpur, District – Jagatsinghpur; House of his relatives at village- Jadatira, in Dist.- Jagatsingjpur; residential accommodation of relative of Mohapatra located at OCL Campus, Rajgangpur, Sundargarh district; office residence located at Sundargarh town; office chamber located at Collectorate, Sundargarh on February 11 and 12, 2022.

Seven teams of the State Vigilance conducted the searches on the strength of search warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar.

During house searches so far, the following assets have been unearthed: Cash Rs.3.52 lakhs; Gold weighing 470 grms; One double storeyed building at Naharkanta, Bhubaneswar worth about Rs 89 lakhs based on preliminary assessment. However, the Vigilance Technical Wing will carry out detailed measurement and assessment, based on which the value is likely to increase further.

The vigilance also traced one flat of Mohapatra at Asiana, Rasulgarh. The Vigilance Technical Wing will carry out detailed measurement and assessment.

A total of 10 plots in Bhubaneswar and Jagatsinghpur were unearthed. Details are as follow: Plot located at Naharkanta College Road, P.S.-Balianta, Bhubaneswar, Dist- Khurda measuring area 5000 sqft. Approx; Plot bearing No. 335/413, Mouza Johala, Balianta, Bhubaneswar measuring Area A0.850 decimals; Plot bearing No. 691/2704, Khata No. 384/553, Mouza Uttamundmuhan, Jatni, Khordha measuring Area A0.930 decimals; plot bearing No. 279, Khata No. 285/111, Mouza-Barti, Raghunathpur, Jagatsinghpur measuring area A0.77 decimals; plot bearing No. 122, Khata No. 186, Mouza-Jagannathpur, Jagatsinghpur measuring Area A0.14 decimals; plot bearing no. 169, Khata No. 405/54 Mouza-Jagannathpur, Jagatsinghpur measuring area A0.06 decimals; plot bearing No. 217, Khata No. 335, Mouza- Jagannathpur, Jagatsinghpur measuring area A0.37 decimals; plot bearing No. 1061, Khata No. 244, Mouza- Jagannathpur, Jagatsinghpur measuring area A0.41 decimals; two plots bearing No. 838 and 839, Khata No. 1022/25, Mouza Redhua, Dist- Jagatsinghpur measuring Area A0.03 decimals.

“The Vigilance Technical Wing will carry out detailed measurement and valuation of plots. Market value may be in crores,” the Vigilance stated.

Also, Mohapatra had started cement business recently in name of his spouse. A godown with cement stocks opposite to his house in Balianta, Bhubaneswar unearthed along with financial documents. Finance Wing of the Odisha Vigilance is carrying out valuation of Cement stocks.

Approximately Rs.2.48 crores were found in bank fixed deposits, saving accounts, insurance premium, mutual funds and NPS.

i) Bank Fixed deposits & Saving Bank deposits-Rs.1,95,42,877.00

ii) Investment in Mutual Funds – Rs.32,05,505.00

iii) Investment in Insurance Policies – Rs.10,79,281.00

iv) Investment in SBI Bonds – Rs.7,50,000.00

v) Deposits in National Pension Scheme – Rs.2,00,000.00

Large number of suspicious transactions have been found in the bank accounts. Apart from this, agreements with FOXSKY ELECTRONICS INDIA PVT. LTD. for advance payment of Rs 15 lakh and heritage properties and other firms along with draft agreements with different firms have been recovered. Chartered Accountant, Bank Consultant and Financial Wing of Odisha Vigilance have been scrutinizing the documents collected/seized from the house and different places of search of Mohapatra.

The ADM, Sundargarh was found in possession of disproportionate assets, which he could not account for satisfactorily. The Vigilance Cell P.S. Case No.3 dt.13.02.2022 has been registered against Mohapatra and his spouse U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b)/12 PC Act, 1988 as amended by Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act-2018.

Investigation of the case is in progress, the Vigilance added.