Odisha Vigilance raids CADA engineer Padmalochan Nayak, uncovers crore-worth assets
Synopsis
Odisha Vigilance tore open a sprawling asset trail linked to a single government engineer — 18 plots across five districts, three buildings, two JCBs, and foreign currency from four countries. The scale of what one CADA Executive Engineer allegedly accumulated, combined with suspected gambling trips to Sri Lanka, makes this one of the more striking disproportionate-assets finds in the state's recent anti-corruption push.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Vigilance raided seven locations on 23 June linked to Padmalochan Nayak , Executive Engineer, CADA Sambalpur Division .
Searches spanned Sambalpur, Kataka, Baleshwar, and Malkangiri districts, executed by seven teams under court-issued warrants.
Assets found include 3 buildings , 18 plots across five districts, 3 four-wheelers , 2 JCBs , 1 tractor , and 1 trailer .
Gold ornaments and household articles worth approximately ₹20 lakh and cash of ₹3.45 lakh were also recovered, along with foreign currency from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bahrain, and the USA .
Nayak is suspected to have made multiple visits to Sri Lanka and allegedly engaged in gambling — claims under verification.
Searches were ongoing at the time of reporting; officials said more assets are likely to be unearthed .
Odisha Vigilance on 23 June conducted simultaneous searches across seven locations linked to Padmalochan Nayak, Executive Engineer of the Command Area Development Authority (CADA), Sambalpur Division, on charges of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The raids, spanning Sambalpur, Kataka, Baleshwar, and Malkangiri districts, unearthed property running into crores — including buildings, plots, vehicles, and foreign currency.
Scale of the Operation
Seven teams of Odisha Vigilance, led by four Deputy Superintendents of Police, 13 Inspectors, seven Assistant Sub Inspectors, and supporting staff, executed the searches under warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur. Locations searched included Nayak's rented residence at Dhanupali in Sambalpur, a triple-storeyed residential building at Bidyadharpur in Kataka, and another property at Mukhalis under Basta Police Station in Baleshwar district.
Assets Unearthed
Anti-corruption sleuths found Nayak and his family members in possession of three buildings, including a multi-storeyed structure in Kataka, and 18 plots — among them five in Bhubaneswar, three in Kataka, six in Korei area of Jajpur district, three in Basta, Baleshwar, and one in Delanga, Puri district. Investigators also recovered gold ornaments and household articles worth approximately ₹20 lakh, cash of ₹3.45 lakh, foreign currency notes from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bahrain, and the USA, three four-wheelers, two JCBs, one tractor, and one trailer.
Foreign Travel and Gambling Allegations
According to officials, Nayak is suspected to have made multiple visits to Sri Lanka and allegedly engaged in gambling activities — a claim that is currently being verified by the agency. The foreign currency notes recovered during the raids lend weight to the international travel angle, though investigators have not yet drawn formal conclusions.
Investigation Still Under Way
Officials confirmed that Nayak is being examined to ascertain the source of the assets uncovered. Vigilance sources indicated that more assets are likely to surface as searches were still ongoing at the time of reporting. This action is part of a sustained anti-corruption drive by the Odisha Vigilance against government officials allegedly accumulating wealth beyond their legitimate income. The agency is expected to file a detailed chargesheet once the full extent of assets is established.
Point of View
Undisturbed accumulation window that routine internal audits clearly missed. The presence of foreign currency from four countries and suspected gambling trips to Sri Lanka suggest a lifestyle well beyond the reach of a state engineer's salary, raising questions about how such wealth went undetected for so long. Odisha Vigilance has been running a visible anti-corruption campaign, but the agency's ability to convert raids into convictions remains the real measure of deterrence. High-profile asset seizures make headlines; it is the courtroom outcome that will determine whether this crackdown changes behaviour.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Padmalochan Nayak and why was he raided?
Padmalochan Nayak is the Executive Engineer of the Command Area Development Authority (CADA), Sambalpur Division, Odisha. He was raided on 23 June by the Odisha Vigilance on charges of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
What assets were found during the Odisha Vigilance raids?
Investigators found 3 buildings, 18 plots spread across Bhubaneswar, Kataka, Jajpur, Baleshwar, and Puri districts, gold ornaments and household articles worth approximately ₹20 lakh, cash of ₹3.45 lakh, foreign currency from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bahrain, and the USA, three four-wheelers, two JCBs, one tractor, and one trailer.
How many locations were searched and who conducted the raids?
Seven locations across Sambalpur, Kataka, Baleshwar, and Malkangiri districts were searched. Seven teams comprising four Deputy Superintendents of Police, 13 Inspectors, seven Assistant Sub Inspectors, and supporting staff carried out the operation under warrants from the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.
What is the allegation about Nayak's foreign travel?
According to officials, Nayak is suspected to have made multiple visits to Sri Lanka and allegedly engaged in gambling activities. The claim is currently being verified by the Odisha Vigilance; no formal charges on this count have been filed yet.
Is the investigation complete?
No — the searches were still ongoing at the time of reporting. Vigilance sources said more assets are likely to be unearthed, and Nayak is being examined to determine the full source of his holdings.
