Did Odisha Vigilance Uncover Millions in Assets Linked to OSCSC Ltd Official?
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Bhubaneswar, Dec 22 (NationPress) As part of its ongoing efforts against corruption, Odisha Vigilance officials carried out coordinated house searches on Monday at multiple properties associated with a senior officer of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (OSCSC Ltd.) due to accusations of acquiring assets disproportionate to his income.
The officer in question, Rabindra Kumar Barik, serves as the Junior Accountant at the District Manager's office in Sundargarh district.
According to Vigilance sources, searches were executed based on allegations regarding Barik's possession of assets that greatly exceed his known income sources, with raids occurring at five different locations in the Sundargarh and Balasore districts.
The properties searched included a triple-storey residential building, a triple-storey market complex and gym, a Kalyan Mandap in Balasore, a rented residence, and his office located in Sundargarh.
A total of five teams from Odisha Vigilance, including three Deputy Superintendents of Police, six Inspectors, and additional support staff, conducted the searches under search warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Balasore.
So far, the authorities have discovered assets valued at several crores, featuring a triple-storeyed building, a triple-storeyed market complex and gym, a Kalyan Mandap, four valuable plots, over Rs 43.81 lakhs in deposits, 175 grams of gold, cash, and household items estimated at around Rs 32.15 lakhs.
Vigilance officials further disclosed that Barik is currently being interrogated to determine the origins of his amassed wealth.
Additionally, the state's anti-corruption unit anticipates uncovering further assets in upcoming searches.
It is noteworthy that another senior officer from the forest department, Rajendra Kumar Samantray, was apprehended on Sunday for allegedly accumulating assets that exceed his stated income sources by 232 percent.