Bhubaneswar, Jul 30: The Odisha Vigilance Department has widened its investigation into the disproportionate assets (DA) case involving Assistant Engineer Raja Kishore Jena. In a major development, another Assistant Engineer from R&B Division-II, reportedly a close associate of Jena, has now come under the scanner of the anti-corruption wing.

The accused engineer, whose identity is yet to be revealed, is being probed for possible links to Jena.

Vigilance officials suspect that the network of financial irregularities may extend beyond Jena, involving colleagues who may have aided or benefited from the alleged accumulation of wealth.

On Tuesday, Odisha Vigilance launched simultaneous raids at 10 locations associated with Raja Kishore Jena following allegations of possessing disproportionate assets beyond his known sources of income.

At least, 10 teams of Odisha Vigilance department comprising seven Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), five Inspectors, one Sub-Inspector (SI), 11 Assistant SIs, and other supporting staff conducted the search on the strength of search warrants issued by the Vigilance Court of Special Judge in Bhubaneswar.

The anti-corruption officials have reportedly unearthed properties worth several crores possessed by Jena and his family members.

Jena reportedly owned two shops at Utkal Kanika Galleria Mall and Symphony Mall in Bhubaneswar, 13 high value plots, including nine in Bhubaneswar, three in Nayagarh and one in Khordha districts.

He has allegedly invested Rs 75 lakh in Bank, postal and insurance deposits and spent Rs 67 lakh on the education of his two children at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology and Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences.

The Vigilance officials also unearthed cash and household articles worth more than Rs 30 lakh.

read more Odisha News