Top four cash seizures in DA cases in 2022: Odisha Vigilance

Cuttack: With the year coming to an end, 2022 saw many major crackdowns by the Odisha Vigilance including top four cash seizures ever made in its history. In a review of the current year, the anti-corruption bureau in a press release shared that as many as 200 government officers and others were arrested and 285 criminal cases registered.

As many as 84 disproportionate asset (DA) cases worth over Rs 174 crore were detected and the Odisha Vigilance also made top four cash seizures during DA searches which reportedly is the highest ever made. Besides, 118 trap cases were registered where 129 persons including 126 government officers  were trapped while demanding and accepting bribe worth over Rs 36.94 lakhs.

The highest bribe money seizure, as per the release, was Rs 10 lakh. This again was the highest ever in the Odisha Vigilance history. Cases were registered against 60 Class-1 officers in 2022 (highest in last 5 years).

In investigation, searches were carried out at over 600 locations in trap and DA cases. As many as 898 number of bank accounts of corrupt public servants were frozen including crypto assets. 111 buildings and projects in 62 valuation cases worth nearly Rs 24 crore  were evaluated and 62 spouses named co-accused in DA cases.

Investigation in 347 cases were completed with a disposal rate of 122 per cent, the highest percentage of disposal in a decade. Investigation in all trap cases of 2021 and earlier and over 60 per cent trap cases completed.

In Prosecution, there were 91 convictions including that of former IAS officer Vinod Kumar. There was Vigilance Clearance for 40,786 public servants.