Vigilance Seizes ₹14.38 Lakh from Two ST&SC Department Auditors in Baripada
Bhubaneswar, September 11 (SatyaNewsAlert):
The Odisha Vigilance Department has seized a total of ₹14.38 lakh in cash from two auditors of the ST&SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, who were allegedly carrying unaccounted money after completing audit work in Baripada.
The two officials, identified as Prashant Kumar Pradhan and Pragyan Prakash Patra, were intercepted late Thursday night while returning in their official vehicle from the District Welfare Office (DWO), Baripada, to their hotel.
Acting on prior information that the officials were allegedly carrying suspected ill-gotten cash, Vigilance officers intercepted the vehicle and recovered ₹5.51 lakh from their possession. The cash was found in 52 envelopes and 20 loose bundles, for which the officials allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.
Subsequent searches of their hotel rooms led to the recovery of another ₹8.86 lakh, taking the total cash seizure to ₹14.38 lakh.
The two auditors had reportedly visited Baripada to conduct audits of the DWO office, ashram and sevashram schools, high schools, higher secondary schools and SSD hostels functioning under the SC/ST Development Department.
As part of the audit process, headmasters and institution in-charges had allegedly been directed to appear in Baripada with relevant school and hostel files and registers.
According to Vigilance sources, allegations had been received that the two auditors were demanding ₹10 per enrolled student from school and hostel authorities in exchange for ensuring a smooth audit.
The officials are currently being questioned to ascertain the source and purpose of the cash seized from them. Vigilance teams have also launched searches at locations linked to the two officials to determine whether they have accumulated disproportionate assets through alleged illegal earnings over the years.
The investigation is underway, and further action will be taken based on findings .
