The Odisha Vigilance Department conducted coordinated searches at various locations associated with Pramod Ray, an assistant executive engineer at Derabish Irrigation Sub-Division, due to suspicions of unexplained wealth accumulation. The raids, authorized by the Special Judge, Vigilance, in Cuttack, covered seven premises in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Dhenkanal. A significant team from the Vigilance department, comprising police officers and technical staff, led the operation to investigate the alleged disproportionate assets.
Officials searched multiple properties linked to Ray and his family members, including a four-storey building in Balianta and a residence in the Patia area in Bhubaneswar. In Cuttack, properties like a double-storey house in Chaudwar and Ray’s ancestral home in Ragadi were inspected. The searches also extended to Ray’s office chamber and temporary residence within the Derabish Irrigation Office premises in Kendrapara, as well as houses of relatives in Bhadrak and Dhenkanal districts.
The ongoing searches aim to assess the market value of the discovered assets, including land, buildings, and investments. Once the investigation concludes, a detailed report on the seized assets and documents will be made public. This operation is part of the Vigilance department’s intensified efforts to combat corruption among government officials in Odisha, with recent actions targeting officers from various departments over allegations of amassing disproportionate assets.
