Odisha Vigilance seizes ₹21.88 lakh from engineer in bribery probe
Synopsis
Odisha Vigilance ran a covert mobile-tracking operation to corner a Superintending Engineer who allegedly pocketed contractor bribes — and recovered ₹21.88 lakh in two separate cash hoards before he could disappear. The engineer reportedly changed locations and vehicles multiple times before being intercepted near AG Square, Bhubaneswar.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Vigilance seized a total of ₹21,88,620 from Prasanjit Das , Superintending Engineer of the Mahanadi Northern Division , on 16–17 October 2025 . ₹7,28,620 was recovered from Das's official Bolero vehicle near AG Square, Bhubaneswar ; another ₹14.60 lakh was found at his rented flat in Trident Galaxy, Ghatikia .
Vigilance used mobile tracking to locate Das after he changed vehicles and locations multiple times.
A case has been filed under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018) at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station .
Allegations state Das collected bribes from contractors at the Jagatpur Irrigation Inspection Bungalow ; investigation is ongoing.
Odisha Vigilance on Saturday, 18 October 2025, recovered unaccounted cash totalling ₹21,88,620 from Prasanjit Das, Superintending Engineer of the Mahanadi Northern Division at Jagatpur in Cuttack district, following allegations that he had collected bribes from contractors working under his jurisdiction. A case has since been registered at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to Vigilance officials, the operation was triggered by specific intelligence that Das had allegedly collected bribes from contractors at the Jagatpur Irrigation Inspection Bungalow. Tracking him proved difficult, as he reportedly changed his location and vehicle multiple times. Officials deployed mobile tracking to monitor his movements before eventually locating him near Delta Square in Bhubaneswar.
Two plain-clothes Vigilance personnel then entered the Delta Irrigation Inspection Bungalow, where Das was attending a gathering, to confirm his identity and presence. Once the gathering concluded, Das boarded his officially hired Bolero vehicle and left, reportedly to meet another contractor.
The Interception and Cash Recovery
Vigilance personnel intercepted Das near AG Square in Bhubaneswar late on Thursday night, 16 October. A search of the vehicle and his personal belongings led to the recovery of ₹7,28,620 in suspected ill-gotten cash, according to officials. Das reportedly could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of the funds.
Simultaneously, a separate Vigilance team had placed Das's rented flat at Trident Galaxy, Ghatikia in Bhubaneswar under surveillance. A subsequent search of the accommodation yielded an additional ₹14.60 lakh in cash, bringing the total seizure to ₹21,88,620. Investigators also searched his ancestral residence in Baragada as part of the operation.
Legal Action and Charges Filed
A case was formally registered at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station on 16 October under Section 13(2), read with Section 13(1)(b), of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Das was detained for questioning to establish the origin of the seized cash and verify the bribery allegations against him. The seized amount has been taken into official custody.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
The investigation is ongoing. Vigilance authorities are working to determine the full source of the recovered money and ascertain the extent of alleged bribe collections from contractors. Further action, including potential arrest or chargesheet, will depend on the findings of the probe. Notably, this operation reflects a continuing pattern of Odisha Vigilance conducting targeted intelligence-based intercepts against serving government engineers in irrigation and public works departments.
Point of View
Plain-clothes surveillance, and a simultaneous two-location search. That methodological step-up matters because it signals the department is moving beyond tip-off-and-raid to more evidence-anchored operations. The bigger question is whether this intercept is an isolated action or the leading edge of a broader probe into contractor-engineer nexuses across Odisha's irrigation infrastructure, where public funds regularly cycle through inspection bungalows. The case will test whether charges translate into conviction — historically, the Prevention of Corruption Act has seen low conviction rates in similar engineer-contractor cases.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prasanjit Das and why was he targeted by Odisha Vigilance?
Prasanjit Das is the Superintending Engineer of the Mahanadi Northern Division at Jagatpur in Cuttack district, Odisha. He was targeted after Vigilance received specific information alleging he had collected bribes from contractors at the Jagatpur Irrigation Inspection Bungalow.
How much cash was seized from Prasanjit Das and where was it found?
A total of ₹21,88,620 was recovered in two tranches — ₹7,28,620 from his officially hired Bolero vehicle near AG Square in Bhubaneswar, and ₹14.60 lakh from his rented flat at Trident Galaxy in Ghatikia. His ancestral home in Baragada was also searched as part of the operation.
What charges have been filed against the engineer?
A case was registered on 16 October at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under Section 13(2), read with Section 13(1)(b), of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The charges relate to alleged possession of assets disproportionate to known income and criminal misconduct.
How did Odisha Vigilance track down Prasanjit Das?
Das reportedly changed his locations and vehicles multiple times in an apparent bid to evade detection. Vigilance officials used mobile tracking to monitor his movements, eventually locating him at the Delta Irrigation Inspection Bungalow before intercepting him near AG Square.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The investigation is ongoing. Vigilance authorities are working to establish the full source of the recovered cash and verify the extent of alleged bribe collection from contractors. Further action, including possible arrest or chargesheet, will depend on the findings of the probe.
