Odisha Vigilance Arrests Chief Engineer for Disproportionate Assets
In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Odisha Vigilance has apprehended NV Harihara Rao, Chief Engineer at the Rural Works Circle in Balasore, for allegedly possessing assets beyond his known income.
A coordinated operation involving 11 DSPs, 7 Inspectors, and other personnel was conducted across 11 locations in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Balasore, Keonjhar, and Phulbani. The searches revealed a staggering array of assets, including:
- Cash: Over ₹46 lakh discovered at his brother-in-law’s residence in Berhampur.
- Real Estate: Two suspected benami flats, along with multiple high-value homestead plots in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.
- Bank Deposits: More than ₹1.11 crore found in various accounts linked to Rao and his family.
- Vehicles: One four-wheeler and one two-wheeler.
Among the properties identified were:
- A double-storeyed building in Berhampur.
- A large building and a 3-BHK flat in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.
- High-value plots of land in strategic locations.
The Vigilance Technical Wing is currently assessing the valuation of these assets, while further investigations are underway to uncover the source of the substantial cash holdings and any additional investments. A locker in the name of Rao’s spouse at SBI Berhampur remains unopened
This operation underscores the Vigilance’s commitment to rooting out corruption within public offices in Odisha.