The Odisha Vigilance apprehended Debabrata Mohanty, the Cuttack Deputy Director of Mines, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a licensed coal vendor. The bribe was in exchange for enabling the smooth operation of the vendor’s coal depot and granting permission for coal transportation. The police confiscated the entire bribe amount from Mohanty.
Simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations linked to Mohanty to determine if he possesses any disproportionate assets. A case has been filed against Mohanty under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the State Assembly about a total of 416 cases registered by the Vigilance Department against government officials and employees for bribery and financial irregularities between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
Of these cases, 244 are under investigation, while in 172 cases, investigations have concluded, and the cases are now sub-judice. The state government has set up 22 Vigilance Courts, including two Special courts and two courts of authorized officers, to expedite trials related to Vigilance cases and confiscation proceedings. Additionally, a new Vigilance Court has been established in Bargarh district. The Odisha government has also implemented various measures to enhance the Vigilance department’s effectiveness.
