Argus News - Breaking News: Odisha Assembly Exposes Crime and Corruption Trends

Bhubaneswar, Mar 23: A series of written replies by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the Odisha Assembly has shed light on multiple pressing issues ranging from sex rackets and crimes against women to corruption, cattle smuggling, and Maoist activities in the state.

Since July 2024, police have intensified raids on OYO hotels and rented houses in Bhubaneswar following suspicions of sex rackets. Regular patrols and surprise checks have led to several arrests, including hotel owners, brokers, and customers. In one case at Laxmisagar area, police arrested a house owner, three brokers, and four customers. Similarly, near Capital Hospital, raids resulted in the arrest of two brokers and four customers.

CM Majhi also revealed alarming statistics on crimes against women in 2025. A total of 32,687 cases were registered, including 7378 kidnappings, 7382 cases of misconduct, 1183 sexual assaults, 5419 dowry-related harassment cases, and 2994 rapes.

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On homicide trends, Bhubaneswar recorded a decline in murder cases, dropping from 43 in 2024 to 33 in 2025. In contrast, Cuttack saw an increase from 21 cases in 2024 to 24 in 2025. Child abduction cases also rose sharply, with 8206 children reported missing in 2025 compared to 6838 in 2024, though 6036 were successfully rescued.

Cattle smuggling remains another major concern. Between 2022 and 2025, Odisha registered 1,878 cases, with 2,699 arrests and over 24,667 cattle rescued under “Operation Go Raksha.” Most smuggling routes lead to West Bengal, with significant trafficking also reported towards Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.

Corruption within government ranks has also come under scrutiny. Vigilance authorities arrested 822 officials over the past five years, including 161 Class I officers and 158 Class II officers. In 2025 alone, 184 officials were arrested. A total of 1,237 cases were registered, with assets worth ₹659 crore seized, reflecting the scale of illicit wealth accumulation.

On the Maoist front, the Odisha Chief Minister confirmed that only 15 Maoists remain active in limited areas along the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Rayagada border. Over the past two years, 96 Maoists have surrendered. The government aims to make Odisha completely Maoist-free by March 2026, with Kandhamal still considered a sensitive district.