Odisha vigilance detects all-time high of Rs 124 crore ‘ill-gotten’ assets in 2020

BHUBANESWAR: The detection of ill-gotten assets amassed by several corrupt public servants in the state was valued at a staggering Rs 123.92 crore in 2020, according to the annual report released by Odisha vigilance directorate on Friday. This was the highest-ever detection of disproportionate assets (DA) by the vigilance wing, which had found Rs 62.83 crore DA in the names of several government employees in 2019.
“Our crackdowns were affected for several months owing to Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite all odds, we registered a record number of 93 misappropriation cases, involving Rs 123.92 crore disproportionate assets last year as compared to 53 such cases, involving Rs 62.83 crore DA in 2019,” a senior vigilance officer said.
Last year’s single biggest DA case was registered against senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Abhay Kant Pathak. Vigilance had arrested Pathak and his son Akash on November 27 for allegedly possessing Rs 9.35 crore DA.
Out of the 93 misappropriation cases registered last year, we detected DA of more than Rs 1 crore in 36 cases and more than Rs 4 crore in four cases. Altogether 24 DA cases were registered against Class-I officers and 19 DA cases were registered against Class-II officers, the vigilance officer said.
The report said, a total of 245 criminal cases, including corruption, misappropriation and trap cases, were registered against 381 persons, including 53 Class-I officers, 37 Class-II officers, 184 Class-III employees, five Class-IV employees, 26 other public servants and 76 private persons in 2020.
Last year, altogether 103 trap cases were registered against 113 public servants and two private persons for allegedly accepting bribes. The vigilance had seized bribe amount to the tune of nearly Rs 16.62 lakh last year. In 2019, altogether 113 trap cases were reported against 120 public servants and two private persons. Nearly Rs 17.36 lakh bribe was seized from them in 2019.
A total of 16 cases ended in conviction last year against 1 Class-I officer, two Class-II officers, 13 Class-III employees and one private person. The percentage of conviction stood at 46% last year.a
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