Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha Vigilance Directorate has released a performance report covering the period June 12, 2024, to October 27, 2025, highlighting an extensive anti-corruption drive across the state.
Major highlights
- 302 criminal cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 303 persons, including 90 Class-I officers — among them one IAS officer, seven Chief Engineers, and several senior departmental officials.
- Disproportionate Assets (DA) worth ₹212 crore were detected in 80 cases, with ₹9.2 crore in cash and 24 kg of gold seized.
- 136 trap cases resulted in 161 officials, including 144 government officers, being caught red-handed while accepting bribes totaling ₹35.62 lakh.
- Major recoveries include ₹2.56 crore from Chief Engineer Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, ₹2.08 crore from Santanu Mohapatra (Deputy Director, Watershed, Malkangiri), and ₹57 lakh from IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, Sub-Collector, Dharamgarh.
Key disproportionate asset cases
Notable cases include:
- Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer, RW Dept., found with DA worth ₹9.08 crore (483% beyond income).
- Ashok Kumar Panda, Asst. Engineer, R&B, with DA of ₹8.53 crore (213%).
- Golap Chandra Hansdah, MVI, Boudh, with DA of ₹6.35 crore (630%).
- Rama Chandra Nepak, Dy. Ranger, Jeypore, with DA of ₹5.20 crore and ₹1.43 crore cash seized.
- Nityananda Nayak, DFO, Keonjhar, with DA of ₹4.81 crore.
Misappropriation of Public Funds
During the same period, 86 cases of misappropriation were registered involving ₹30.43 crore in government funds.
Key cases include:
- Debananda Sagar, ex-PEO, Kalahandi, for misappropriating ₹3.26 crore through fake transactions.
- Santanu Mohapatra, Deputy Director, Watershed, Malkangiri, for embezzling ₹49.9 lakh through false plantation bills.
Prosecution & conviction
- 132 convictions recorded, with an overall 50% conviction rate and 80% in DA cases.
- 30 officials dismissed from service and pensions of 68 retired officers stopped following conviction.
- 406 charge sheets filed against 834 accused persons, including 59 Class-I and 68 Class-II officers.
Training & preventive vigilance
The State Vigilance Academy trained 1,175 officers from IAS, IPS, OFS, and other services on anti-corruption laws and good governance practices.
Forest wing action
The Forest Vigilance Wing conducted 128 joint raids, seizing illegal timber, machinery, and vehicles worth ₹6.15 crore.
The Odisha Vigilance Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in public administration, vowing continued zero tolerance toward corruption in the state.
