Bhubaneswar, February 25 – In the largest-ever cash seizure by Odisha's Vigilance Department, anti-corruption officials on Wednesday recovered over ₹4 crore in cash from the flat of the Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle, in Bhubaneswar.
The accused, identified as Debabrata Mohanty, was apprehended on Tuesday night for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from a licensed coal vendor to ensure the smooth operation of his coal depot and to obtain permission for transporting coal.
Following his arrest, Vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him, including his residential flat at Shree Vihar, Patia in Bhubaneswar, his parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak, and his office chamber in Cuttack, to determine whether the accused Deputy Director possessed any disproportionate assets (DA).
During the ongoing searches, over ₹4 crore in cash was recovered from his flat in Bhubaneswar. The money was found concealed in trolley bags and cupboards.
Officials said that the counting process is underway to determine the exact amount.
This recovery marks the largest cash seizure ever made by the Odisha Vigilance Department.
Additionally, ₹1.20 lakh in cash was recovered and seized from Mohanty's office drawer and personal belongings.
Besides the cash, Vigilance officials have so far recovered the following assets: A large, two-story building measuring approximately 2,400 sq ft in Pahala, Bhubaneswar. Approximately 130 grams of gold ornaments have also been recovered from Mohanty's possession.
A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, against Mohanty at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station on Monday.
Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Monday, told the State Assembly that the Vigilance Department has registered a total of 416 cases against government officers and employees in the state for accepting bribes, committing financial irregularities in government funds, and possessing disproportionate assets between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025.
