Odisha Vigilance arrest crorepati Khandapada Block chairman

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 20:

Two days after Vigilance sleuths conducted simultaneous raids at 10 places, the officials of the anti-corruption wing today arrested the Khandapada Block chairman on charges of accumulating wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Vigilance sleuths had taken Khandapada Block chairman Sisir Kumar Sahoo into custody yesterday.

Acting on complaints, Bhubaneswar Vigilance Division conducted raids at several places in the capital city and Khandapada on the properties of Sisir Kumar Sahoo on Wednesday. The sleuths had unearthed wealth to the tune of Rs 8.27 crore.

Sahoo allegedly amassed properties by misusing his power while holding public office between 2007 and 2016. He was a Zilla Parishad member in 2007 and has been holding the post of block chairman since 2012.

His residential buildings and business establishments in Bhubaneswar, parental house at Banamalipur in Nayagarh and Block Office at Khandapada were searched.

Besides, two four-storeyed buildings at Patia, one near Infocity, marble and timber business units at Bomikhal, Tamando and Patia were also raided.

The sleuths also seized three luxury cars, nearly Rs 5 lakh cash and over 500 grams of gold ornaments, sources said.

Following raids, Sahoo blamed BJD’s Khandapada legislator Anubhav Patnaik for the crackdown which has been denied by the latter.