Odisha Vigilance officials have seized around 1440 grams of gold and a designer necklace worth Rs 24.25 lakh from Gopalpur MLA

Bhubaneswar:18/10/21: Odisha Vigilance officials have seized around 1440 grams of gold and a designer necklace worth Rs 24.25 lakh from the house of Gopalpur MLA Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy after raid, official sources said today.

“During the course of searches, 1440 gm gold and a Sabyasachi brand designer necklace worth Rs 24.25 lakh were found in the house of Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy and seized. Steps are being taken for their attachment,” the Vigilance said

Steps are also being taken for the freezing of bank accounts of Dr. Panigrahy and his family members. The documents found during the searches will be examined by the officers of Financial Wing of Vigilance and Professional CA and Banking Consultants, the anti-corruption agency said.

Cyber Cell of Vigilance will examine all electronic evidence/ documents found during the searches. Examination of witnesses, suspects, and accused shall be carried out in due course of time. Further investigation was underway, it added.

The Odisha Vigilance had yesterday carried out raids at 15 places in the state in connection with allegation against Panigrahy regarding possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The agency said the legislator had amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs 5.05 crore.

“On the allegation of possession of disproportionate assets by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, a secret verification was conducted by Odisha Vigilance. On completion of the secret verification, as material was found regarding possession of disproportionate assets by Dr. Panigrahy, a complaint was filed before the Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar on 9.12.2020. Finding material in the said complaint that Dr. Panigrahy had amassed assets disproportionate to known sources of income by resorting to corrupt practices, the Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar vide order dated 11.12.2020 directed Odisha Vigilance to conduct an inquiry against Dr. Panigrahy,” the Odisha Vigilance said in a press release, yesterday.

Accordingly, an inquiry was conducted which revealed that Dr. Panigrahy had intentionally enriched himself illicitly during his incumbency as a public servant from 24.5.2009 to 30.11.2020 and was found in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 5,05,04,656. The probe report was submitted to the Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar on 28.5.2021, the release said.

“The Lokayukta, after minutely examining the report and reply filed by Dr. Panigrahy, found that there existed a prima-facie case against Dr. Panigrahy for an offence under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as amended by Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2018, and directed the Odisha Vigilance to carry out investigation in the matter. Accordingly, the Vigilance has registered a case dated 4.10.2021 for detailed investigation,” the release added.

The Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar has authorized the Investigating Officer to conduct searches in the case. Accordingly, simultaneous searches are being conducted at 15 different places of Dr. Panigrahy, his relatives and associates for the purpose of investigation.