Bhubaneswar, Dec 31 (NationPress) In the year 2025, the Odisha Vigilance registered a total of 202 cases and apprehended 212 corrupt officials and private individuals linked to various graft offences, as announced by Vigilance Director Y.K. Jethwa on Wednesday.

Among the 202 cases, 49 were related to disproportionate assets (DA), implicating 89 individuals. Furthermore, 97 trap cases were logged against 114 government officials, including 14 Class-I officers, according to Vigilance officials.

The estimated value of the disproportionate assets identified in the 49 DA cases reached approximately Rs 120 crore. Notably, 21 DA cases involved Class-I officers, while 13 cases were directed at Class-II officers.

Additionally, 36 spouses of the accused officials were also named as co-accused in DA cases during the year.

In 2025, the Odisha Vigilance detained 53 Class-I officers, including one IAS officer, six Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers, 24 engineers (among them a Chief Engineer and two Superintending Engineers), 17 forest officials, 20 revenue officials, a Joint Commissioner of the State Transport Authority, a Joint Director, 16 police personnel, and five doctors, among others.

During their operations, Vigilance teams confiscated 153 buildings, 714 plots, 12 farmhouses, 18.3 kg of gold, bank deposits totaling approximately Rs 36.69 crore, and cash amounting to Rs 8.81 crore. Searches were executed at 487 locations, and 1,199 bank accounts were frozen. Technical assessments valued the seized properties at Rs 51.38 crore.

Speaking to the media, Jethwa mentioned that the Odisha Vigilance achieved its highest-ever case disposal rate in 2025, reaching a remarkable 237 percent. The agency completed investigations in 479 cases and filed charge sheets against 766 individuals, with 155 DA cases fully investigated and submitted to courts.

The agency secured 108 convictions throughout the year, resulting in a conviction rate of nearly 50 percent. Following these convictions, 24 serving officials were dismissed, and pensions of 50 retired officials were halted by relevant authorities.

Jethwa indicated that over 22 vigilance courts are currently operational across the state. In response to inquiries, he highlighted the Engineering, Panchayati Raj, Revenue, Police, and Forest departments as the sectors most prone to corruption, attributing this to their extensive workforce and operational reach.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Vigilance Director stated that the department intends to bolster its anti-corruption efforts with increased manpower and specialized support in financial analysis, cyber investigations, and legal expertise. The state government has approved additional posts, including Additional SPs, Deputy SPs, SIs, and technical experts such as chartered accountants and banking professionals.

“We are committed to advancing our anti-corruption mission with enhanced dedication and efficiency. With added resources and expertise, we aim to elevate our performance in the upcoming year,” Jethwa concluded.