Bhubaneswar, Jul 24: Odisha Vigilance department on Thursday arrested Jagannath Pattnaik, Executive Engineer of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), on charges of possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

Acting on reliable inputs, the anti-corruption wing led by six Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), 10 Inspectors, and other supporting personnel, had launched simultaneous raids at four locations linked to the official.

During this, the officials had unearthed a vast array of assets, including high-value real estate, agricultural properties, vehicles, and valuables.

Among the most notable discoveries is a triple-storeyed residential building measuring approximately 4,560 sq. ft. located on plot No. RP-12 in Badagada, Bhubaneswar.

Additionally, a farmhouse spread across 1.57 acres in Mouza Ranapur under Balianta Tahasil, Khordha district, has been identified. The farmhouse includes a double-storeyed building (833 sq. ft.), a secondary house (570 sq. ft.), a fish pond, and a plantation featuring a wide variety of fruit-bearing and commercial trees such as coconut, banana, dragon fruit, guava, grapes, blackberry, lemon, mango, and red sandalwood. The property also houses a poultry farm with 15 chicks.

Items recovered during the search include a country-made gun and antler horns.

A locker registered in the name of Pattnaik’s spouse remains unopened and is under scrutiny. The Vigilance Technical Wing is conducting detailed measurements and valuations of all identified properties.

The offiicial was taken into custody and further details are awaited.

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