TNI Bureau: Odisha Vigilance has intensified its crackdown on corruption by conducting simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to two government officials on allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Vigilance teams carried out raids at several premises associated with Jitendra Kumar Panda, Additional Tahasildar of Barang in Cuttack district. Acting on search warrants issued by the Special Vigilance Judge, Bhubaneswar, teams led by four DSPs searched his office chamber at Barang Tahasil and residential properties in Bhubaneswar and Khordha.

During the searches, officials detected two multi-storeyed buildings in Bhubaneswar, a 2BHK flat at Uttara, and another multi-storeyed building in Khordha town. Four high-value plots—three in prime areas of Bhubaneswar and one in Khordha—were also unearthed. Gold jewellery weighing about 100 grams, a four-wheeler (Kia Seltos), four two-wheelers and ₹6.20 lakh in cash were initially recovered. In a major development later, around ₹75 lakh in cash was found hidden in a locked house belonging to Panda’s mother-in-law at Brit Colony, Badagada, Bhubaneswar. Cash counting is underway. A bank locker at SBI, Bhubaneswar, along with bank deposits and other investments, are yet to be verified. Panda joined government service in 1995 with an initial salary of ₹2,000 per month.

In a separate operation, Odisha Vigilance conducted raids at six locations linked to Jitendra Kumar Jena, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Bancho Gram Panchayat under Hatadihi Block in Keonjhar district. The searches were carried out based on warrants issued by the Special Vigilance Judge, Keonjhar, and were led by four DSPs with eight inspectors.

Vigilance officials unearthed a triple-storeyed residential building, a newly constructed double-storeyed market complex, six land plots, gold jewellery weighing around 100 grams, a four-wheeler (Maruti Ertiga) and two two-wheelers. Two rented godowns and an electronics shop named “Saraswati Sales” were also found to be linked to him. Verification of bank accounts, postal savings and other investments is ongoing. Jena joined government service in August 1995 as a GP Secretary with a consolidated pay of ₹2,200 per month.

In both cases, the measurement and valuation of properties are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing. Search operations are continuing, and further details are awaited from Odisha Vigilance.