Assets Under Scanner: Vigilance Conducts Multi-City Raids on Senior Watershed Official
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at eight locations associated with Prasanna Kumar Patra, Deputy Director of Soil Conservation-cum-Project Director, Watershed, Sundargarh, in connection with an alleged disproportionate assets (DA) case.
The searches were carried out on the strength of warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sundargarh.
A large team comprising senior vigilance officers and supporting staff was deployed to conduct the operation.
According to Vigilance sources, the raids covered multiple properties and official premises linked to the officer in Bhubaneswar, Sundargarh and Cuttack districts.
The locations searched included a flat in Nayapalli, three double-storeyed houses at Manchanath Villa in Bhubaneswar, a residential building at Balianta, his office chamber in Sundargarh, his government residential quarter in Sundargarh town, and his in-laws’ residence in Banki of Cuttack district.
The operation was conducted by a team consisting of one Additional Superintendent of Police, four Deputy Superintendents of Police, thirteen Inspectors, five Assistant Sub-Inspectors and other supporting personnel.
Officials said the searches were part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that the officer possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Documents, property records, financial transactions and other valuables are expected to be scrutinised as part of the investigation.
The vigilance raids were continuing at the time of reporting, and detailed findings are likely to emerge once the verification and assessment of seized documents and assets are completed.
