Vigilance conducts raids at 15 places of former Odisha minister Pradip Panigrahi

Bhubaneswar : Simultaneous searches are being conducted by the Odisha Vigilance sleuths at 15 different places of former minister and Gopalpur MLA Pradip Panigrahi, his relatives, and associates.

Official sources here today said searches are led by SP Cell, two Additional SPS, 17 DSPs and other team members.

The searches are being conducted as per the direction of the Odisha Lokayukta to register a case and conduct the raids. The legislator who has been expelled from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had allegedly amassed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 5 crore.
A secret verification was conducted by the Vigilance on the allegation of possession of disproportionate assets by Dr Panigrahi.

On completion of secret verification a complaint was filed before the Odisha Lokayukta on December 9, 2020 after material was found regarding the possession of disproportionate assets by Dr Panigrahi.

The Lokayukta on December 11, 2020 directed Vigilance to conduct an inquiry against Dr Panigrahi u/s 20(2) of Odisha Lokayukta Act.2014.

An inquiry conducted by vigilance found that Dr Panigrahi had amassed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 5.05,04,656 illicitly during his incumbency as a public servant from May 24,2009 to November 30,2020.The inquiry report was submitted to the Lokayukta on May 28,2021.

The Lokayukta after examining the inquiry report and the reply filed by Dr Panigrahi found that there existed a prima facie case against Dr Panigrahi for an offence u/s 13 (2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and directed Vigilance to carry out investigation in the matter.

As per the direction of the Lokayukta a case was registered on October 4, 2021 for a detailed investigation. The Lokayukta also authorised the Vigilance to conduct searches in the case.

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