• Source:JND

In a major crackdown on alleged disproportionate assets, Odisha Vigilance has arrested Baikunthanath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of ITDA Baliguda in Kandhamal district, after raids uncovered assets worth crores of rupees linked to him and his family members.

The vigilance operation, still in progress, is revealing a large number of properties, fancy houses, gold, cash and deposits in banks. Vigilance sources added that one more bank locker in the name of the wife of Behera is yet to be opened.

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Luxury Houses, Plots and Gold Unearthed 

In simultaneous raids at different places of the state, the investigating team found as many as 5 luxury houses that are multi-story, 13 plots, gold ornaments and also cash and bank lockers. It has had a major success where nearly Rs 2 Crore cash was recovered from a bank locker belonging to the accused officer. At present, cash is being counted in banks.

According to the Vigilance officers, Behera, who joined government service as a Junior Engineer with a monthly salary of Rs 6,000 per month in 1999, was found to have properties worth several crores.

His property is in a prime locality like Chandrasekharpur, Niladri Vihar, Sailashree Vihar, Bamikhal-Govindprasad and Ghatikia under the twin city of Bhubaneswar. Besides, land parcels are in Neelkanthpur in Khurda-Jatni, Dharamsala in Jajpur, and Shyamakhunta in Mayurbhanj districts.

The investigators have so far identified 13 plots that also include 7 in Bhubaneswar, 5 in Dharamsala, one in Baripada, while a two-storied house (2500 sqft) was found in a relative's name. Two gold idols are among the ornaments found at his Chandrasekharpur residence, along with Rs 2.66 lakh cash, and the vigilance team seized passbooks and investment papers along with other documents from there.

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Wife's Bank Lockers Under Scanner

The investigation further revealed that Behera's wife maintained lockers in Axis Bank and Union Bank of India, which are also under examination. Vigilance teams have simultaneously searched the residences of his relatives in Baripada and Dharamsala amid suspicions that some assets may have been acquired in their names.

The extensive operation, in the direction from the Special Vigilance Court, Bhubaneswar, was led by two Addl SPs, 5 DSPs, 6 inspectors and a host of vigilance officials. Searches yielded documents relating to both movables and immovables.

After several stints in places such as Navarangpur, Udala and Dabugaon, Behera was promoted as an Assistant Engineer in October 2016. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Executive Engineer in February, 2026. The surprise raid, barely three months after his elevation, comes as a shock to the department.

An estimate of the entire worth of the discovered assets is in progress. Based on the findings, a formal disproportionate assets case is expected to be registered and further legal action initiated.


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