Sri Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engr, RW, Odisha, was arrested by Odisha Vigilance & sent to jail in DA case.DA of 483% incld cash over Rs 2.56 Crores, 2 Multi Storeyed bldgs, 2 Flats,7 Plots, Deposits Rs.1.5 Crores,Share investments Rs.2.7 Crores, Gold 1.141Kg etc. unearthed.
In a dramatic anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance officials uncovered over ₹2.5 crore in cash during raids on properties linked to Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, the Chief Engineer of the state’s Rural Development Department. The incident occurred just a day before Sarangi’s scheduled retirement.
As officers approached his Bhubaneswar flat, Sarangi allegedly attempted to dispose of illicit cash by throwing bundles of ₹500 notes out of his window. Approximately ₹50 lakh was recovered from a neighboring rooftop. In total, ₹2.56 crore in cash was seized from his residences in Bhubaneswar and Angul.
Further investigations revealed that Sarangi possessed assets significantly disproportionate to his known income. These included two multi-storey buildings, two flats, seven high-value plots, investments worth ₹2.7 crore in shares and mutual funds, ₹1.5 crore in bank deposits, over 1.1 kg of gold, and 15 imported wristwatches.
The raids were conducted simultaneously at seven locations across Bhubaneswar, Angul, and Pipili, involving a team of 26 officers. The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption and accumulation of disproportionate assets.
Sarangi, who began his government career in 1991, was promoted to Chief Engineer earlier this year. He is currently detained for questioning, and further legal proceedings are underway.