The Odisha Vigilance apprehended a senior official from the Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OPHWC) for owning significant assets, such as cash amounting to Rs 48.79 lakh and over 1 kg of gold, in connection with a bribery case. The accused, Bidyut Ranjan Bhol, serves as the Deputy Manager at OPHWC’s Sambalpur Division.
P.K. Dwibedi, Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) of Sambalpur Division, mentioned that Bidyut Ranjan had been suspected of collecting money from contractors to settle pending bills, based on regular complaints received by the Vigilance department. Following intelligence indicating Bidyut Ranjan’s intention to take the bribe money home at the end of March, an investigation was launched, confirming the allegations against him.
Acting on a tip-off, a special vigilance team intercepted Bidyut Ranjan’s vehicle near Sambalpur Railway station, where they discovered cash exceeding Rs 5,18,900 in his possession. Subsequent searches at his office and rental accommodation led to the confiscation of incriminating evidence. Further searches were conducted at various locations associated with Bidyut Ranjan, revealing his ownership of assets like two multi-storeyed buildings, a flat in Bhubaneswar, 29 plots in different areas, and 1.14 kg of gold, including coins and biscuits.
The Vigilance officials arrested Bidyut Ranjan on Wednesday under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, after recovering substantial amounts of cash and deposits during house searches at his family’s residences in Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, and Bhanjanagar (Ganjam).
