As soon as the raid took place, the engineer threw bundles of 500 rupee notes from the window, more than 2 crore cash recovered

During the raid, on seeing the vigilance at PDN Exotica flat in Bhubaneswar, Baikuntha Nath Sarangi threw bundles of 500 rupee notes out of the window in panic.

Bhubaneswar:

Odisha Vigilance has taken major action against RW Division Chief Engineer Baikuntha Nath Sarangi. The department conducted simultaneous raids at seven places in Angul, Bhubaneswar and Pipili in Puri and recovered cash worth about Rs 2.1 crore. A shocking incident also came to light during this action, when Sarangi tried to throw bundles of Rs 500 notes from the window of his Bhubaneswar flat on seeing the officials.

Big action by Vigilance

The vigilance conducted the operation based on a search warrant issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Angul. A large team of eight Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), 12 Inspectors, six Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), and other supporting staff were involved in the operation. The residential and office premises of Chief Engineer Baikuntha Nath Sarangi were targeted in the raid.

Raid locations

Where did the vigilance conduct searches?

Kardagadia, Angul: Two-storey residential house, from where Rs 1.1 crore in cash was recovered.

PDN Exxons, Dumduma, Bhubaneswar: Flat number C-102, where Rs 1 crore in cash was recovered. It was from here that Sarangi threw the bundles of notes from the window, which were recovered in the presence of witnesses.

Siula, Pipili, Puri: One flat.

Shikshakpada, Angul: House of Sarangi's relative.

Lokeipasi, Angul: Ancestral house.

Matiyasahi, Angul: Another ancestral house.

Bhubaneswar: Office Room of Chief Engineer, RD Planning & Roads.

Shocking revelation

During the raid, Baikuntha Nath Sarangi threw bundles of Rs 500 notes out of the window in panic upon seeing the vigilance officials at PDN Exotica flat in Bhubaneswar. The vigilance team recovered these notes in the presence of witnesses. In total, Rs 2.1 crore in cash was recovered from the locations in Angul and Bhubaneswar, and the counting of the amount is still going on through counting machines.

Case and investigation

Sarangi is accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. The vigilance department is now conducting a thorough investigation into his properties, bank accounts, and other financial transactions. The action has once again highlighted the issue of corruption and immoral wealth accumulation among government officials.

PC:NDTVINDIA