Odisha Vigilance Seizes Record Rs 4.27 Crore Cash from Mines Official's Flat

Record Cash Haul Uncovered in Anti-Corruption Drive

In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Odisha Vigilance Department has unearthed a staggering sum of over Rs 4.27 crore in cash from the residential flat of a senior mines official in Bhubaneswar. The accused, Debabrata Mohanty, who serves as the Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle, was arrested on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026, for allegedly accepting a bribe. This seizure marks the largest cash recovery in the history of the Odisha Vigilance Department.

Arrest and Subsequent Raids

Mohanty's arrest stemmed from a trap operation where he was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a licensed coal trader. Officials stated that the bribe was demanded to facilitate the smooth functioning of the trader's coal depot and to grant necessary permissions for coal transportation. Following his apprehension, vigilance teams launched simultaneous searches across multiple locations linked to Mohanty. These included his flat in Shree Vihar, Patia, Bhubaneswar, his ancestral home in Bhadrak district, and his office chamber in Cuttack.

Extensive Recoveries and Ongoing Investigation

During the raid at Mohanty's Bhubaneswar apartment, officials discovered bundles of currency notes concealed within trolley bags and almirahs. In addition to the substantial cash amount, investigators also seized other assets:

• Rs 1.20 lakh in cash from his office drawer and personal possession.
• Approximately 305.40 grams of gold jewellery and 600 grams of silver ornaments.
• Documents related to 15 savings bank accounts and 20 mutual fund accounts.
• Identification of a palatial double-storey house in Pahala, Bhubaneswar.

Director General of Vigilance, Y K Jethwa, indicated that the searches point to assets disproportionate to the officer's known income. A case has been registered against Mohanty under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Officials noted that a vigilance case against Mohanty from 2009 is also pending trial. The investigation is ongoing to trace the origin of the seized cash and examine potential further financial irregularities.

Historical Context of Seizures

This record seizure surpasses previous high-value recoveries by the Odisha Vigilance Department. Earlier instances include the recovery of Rs 1.44 crore from a forest department officer in Koraput district in July 2025, and Rs 1.39 crore along with over a kilogram of gold from a rural works engineer in Malkangiri district in March 2022. The previous highest cash seizure was Rs 3.4 crore from an assistant engineer in Ganjam district in April 2022.