Pradeep Panigrahi DA case: Vigilance officials conduct raid for 23 hours

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Bhubaneswar: In a recent development to the case of vigilance raid at several properties Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, the officials conducted the operation for almost 23 hours. Reportedly, simultaneous raids were conducted at 15 places including houses of Pradeep along with his associate.

The team interrogated his daughter, nephew, niece and mother-in-law who were present with Pradeep at his Bhubaneswar residence during the raid, added reports. During the raid, several important documents were confiscated related to his land deals, vehicles, jewelries including 1440 gm gold along with Sabyasachi brand designer necklace worth Rs.24.25 lakhs and many other valuables. The sleuths have seized cash worth Rs 20 lakhs from his associate’s possession following which the team is further investigating regarding this cash.

The vigilance team also seized his passbooks, credit card, debit card, laptop, mobiles from Panigrahi’s possession. Steps are also being taken for freezing of bank accounts, etc of Panigrahi and his family members. The documents found during the searches will be examined by the officers of Financial Wing of Vigilance and Professional CA and Banking Consultants.

Cyber Cell of Vigilance will examine all electronic evidences/documents found during the searches. The examination of witnesses, suspects and accused shall be carried out in due course of time.

Earlier on Sunday, the vigilance officials conducted raid at his Bhubaneswar residence, his relatives and associate in connection with a case of possessing disproportionate assets. The legislator had amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs 5.05 crore.

The raids followed “specific and credible” information that Panigrahi had acquired movable and immovable properties disproportionate to his known sources of income during May 2009 to November 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that on completion of the secret verification, as material was found regarding possession of disproportionate assets by Dr. Panigrahy, a complaint was filed before the Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar on 9.12.2020. Finding material in the said complaint that Dr. Panigrahy had amassed assets disproportionate to known sources of income by resorting to corrupt practices, the Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar vide order dated 11.12.2020 directed Odisha Vigilance to conduct an inquiry against Dr. Panigrahy,” the Odisha Vigilance had said in a press release.

Accordingly, an inquiry was conducted which revealed that Dr. Panigrahy had intentionally enriched himself illicitly during his incumbency as a public servant from 24.5.2009 to 30.11.2020 and was found in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 5,05,04,656. The probe report was submitted to the Lokayukta, Odisha, Bhubaneswar on 28.5.2021, the release further stated.

Also read: Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi under vigilance scanner

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