Cuttack: Following house searches at five places linked to the OSAP Commandant who was intercepted yesterday by a team of Odisha Vigilance was arrested today and forwarded to court. The details of his movable and immovable assets including investments, deposits etcetera are being probed into.

Based on reliable information, the Commandant of the 1st Battalion, Odisha Special Armed Police (OSAP) in Dhenkanal identified as Sunil Kumar Behera was intercepted at CDA Sector-11 near Madhusudan Setu by a team of Odisha Vigilance while he was coming from the district to his residence in Cuttack City.

The Vigilance team found cash of Rs 1,31,535 (suspected to be ill-gotten money) in his possession. As Commandant Behera could not account for satisfactorily, the entire amount was recovered from him and later seized. Following this, Rs 8.70 lakh was also recovered during a search carried out at his residential house in Cuttack. Total cash recovered so far comes to Rs 10, 01,535, a source stated.

Following the interception, simultaneous searches were underway at five locations associated with Behera from a disproportionate assets (DA) angle. He was examined to ascertain the source of the seized cash.

A detailed probe into the DA charge is in progress, a senior official of the Vigilance team said.

Acting on a tip-off regarding the collection of huge cash by Behera as illegal gratification from different sources, a team of the Odisha Vigilance had kept a close watch over his movements and activities.