The Vigilance Department on Saturday (June 6) conducted a massive raid in a major case of corruption and disproportionate assets in Odisha. During this action, about Rs 2 crore in cash was recovered from the bank lockers belonging to government engineer Baikunth Nath Behera and his family. The investigation of the case is still going on and officials believe that there may be further important revelations.
Baikunthnath Behera is working as Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) in the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) located at Baliguda in Kandhamal district. This action was taken against him on the basis of allegations of amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income.
Based on the search warrant obtained from the Special Vigilance Court, Bhubaneswar, the Vigilance Department simultaneously raided nine places in Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Jajpur and Baliguda. A large team of Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector level officers were involved in this campaign.
During the investigation, officials searched the government residence and his office room at Chandrashekharpur, Shailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, Dharamshala area of Jajpur district, Baripada, Baliguda.
During the raid, officials have identified five multi-storey buildings allegedly linked to Baikunth Nath Behera and his family. These also include a four-storey building spread over an area of about 10,500 square feet in Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar. Apart from this, four other residential properties have also come to light in Bhubaneswar and Jajpur districts.
The Vigilance Department has also detected 13 plots. These include seven plots located in prime areas of Bhubaneswar and other plots in Jajpur and Baripada.
During the investigation, more than Rs 2.66 lakh cash was recovered from the first houses searched. After this, the case took a new turn when around Rs 2 crore cash was recovered from the bank lockers belonging to the family.
#WATCH | Odisha: Odisha Vigilance is conducting simultaneous searches at multiple locations following allegations that Baikuntha Nath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer at ITDA, Baliguda, possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. During the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/v6zFdEKbvw
— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2026
Gold jewellery, bank deposits, postal savings schemes, investments and other financial assets are being evaluated by the authorities. Technical experts are also assessing the current market value of properties and lands.
As per official records, Baikunthnath Behera started government service as a junior engineer in the year 1999. His monthly salary at that time was around Rs 6,000. After working on various tribal development projects and engineering posts, he was promoted to the post of Assistant Executive Engineer this year.
The Vigilance Department is now investigating whether the alleged properties acquired by them are in line with their legitimate income or not. Officials say that after the completion of the search and evaluation process, the actual value of the properties in this entire case will be clear.
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