Odisha largely free from caste, religion resonance in electoral politics
Caste calculation, religious affiliation has never emerged as a tool to woo voters.
A day after unearthing disproportionate assets worth Rs 19 crore including high-value residential flats and commercial shopping outlets from a regional transport officer (RTO) of the state, the anti-corruption vigilance wing of Odisha police on Friday arrested the officer under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
“Based on searches conducted on properties of RTO, Boudh Basanta Kumar Mohapatra, he was found in possession of disproportionate assets including 2 high value Flats and 2 commercial shopping outlets in Bhubaneswar, payment of advance Rs 2.23 crore to realtors for purchase of Flats in upscale areas of Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru city, deposits over Rs 3.90 crore, Gold weighing 590 gms, cash Rs 1.16 Lakh etc which he could not account for satisfactorily.
”Hence, Mohapatra has been placed under arrest and is being produced before the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar”, the Vigilance Directorate said in a statement today.
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During the raids carried out in the last 24 hours, the vigilance officials detected two flats and two commercial shopping outlets of Mohapatro in Bhubaneswar. The RTO paid an advance of Rs 2.23 crore for purchase of flats in Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru, he said.
Besides, bank, insurance and mutual fund deposits over Rs 3.90 crore, Rs 1.16 lakh cash, gold over 500 grams, among others were also unearthed by the vigilance officials.
The current market value of immovable property will be around Rs 14.5 crore while other assets including deposits, gold and silver ornaments and household articles is estimated to be Rs 4.5 crore. The total current value of Mohapatra’s assets is about Rs 19 crores, informed vigilance officials.
Mohapatra had joined the government service in the transport department as a mechanical engineer in 1991. He was promoted to the rank of junior motor vehicle inspector (MVI) in 2014 and worked in Balasore, Koraput, Bargarh and Gajapati districts, concluded the Directorate.
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