Odisha Vigilance officials have unearthed a significant cache of assets, including ₹2.04 crore in cash, during raids linked to Baikuntha Nath Behera, an Assistant Executive Engineer with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in Baliguda, Kandhamal. The extensive searches, conducted across nine locations in Odisha, are part of a wider investigation into disproportionate assets.
Who is Baikuntha Nath Behera?
Baikuntha Nath Behera, 52, is a government civil engineer with over two decades of public service. He began his career as a Junior Engineer (Civil) in Nabarangpur in 1999, with an initial monthly salary of approximately ₹6,000. Over the years, Behera advanced through the state's engineering hierarchy, serving in various government establishments.
He was promoted to Assistant Engineer in October 2016 and subsequently to Assistant Executive Engineer in February 2026, a position he held at ITDA, Baliguda, when the Vigilance department initiated its probe.
Details of the Seized Assets
The coordinated raids by Odisha Vigilance have revealed a substantial accumulation of wealth beyond Behera's known sources of income. Investigators seized a total of ₹2.04 crore in physical cash. In addition to the currency, officials documented:
- Property: Five multi-storey buildings, including four in prime locations within Bhubaneswar. One notable property is a four-storey structure spanning approximately 10,500 sq ft in Niladri Vihar. Other properties were identified in Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, and Dharmasala in Jajpur.
- Land Plots: Thirteen high-value plots, with seven located in Bhubaneswar, five in Dharmasala, and one in Baripada.
- Gold and Bank Deposits: Approximately 341 grams of gold jewellery and bank deposits totaling over ₹45 lakh were also detected.
Ongoing Investigation
The Vigilance department's technical wing is currently assessing and verifying all seized properties and assets. Officials are meticulously examining property documents, bank records, and the origins of these assets to determine their precise value and confirm whether they are indeed disproportionate to Baikuntha Nath Behera's legitimate income sources. The investigation is ongoing.