SAMBALPUR: Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday arrested deputy manager of Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OPHWC) Bidyut Ranjan Bhol on charges of amassing huge disproportionate assets including over Rs 48 lakh cash, 1.140 kg gold and at least 29 land plots.
Bhol, the deputy manager of OPHWC’s Sambalpur division, failed to provide a satisfactory account of the cash and assets following which he was arrested, Vigilance officials said.
On Tuesday, Bhol was intercepted near Sambalpur railway station while allegedly carrying nearly Rs 5.19 lakh cash. After seizing the cash, Vigilance sleuths carried out simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him in Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, and Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district.
Following the raids, the Vigilance team unearthed substantial movable and immovable assets in the name of Bhol and his family members. These include two multi-storeyed buildings, a flat in Bhubaneswar, and 29 plots in Jatni, Berhampur and other areas. The total cash seizures also went up to Rs 48.79 lakh.
Besides, gold ornaments weighing approximately 1.140 kg including six gold coins and two gold biscuits were recovered during the raids. Vigilance officials said deposits worth around `30 lakh and other financial investments of Bhol and his family members are under verification.
A case was registered against Bhol under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. He was produced in court on the day.
Bhol had joined government service as an assistant project manager at OPHWC in Berhampur on August 1, 1998 with an initial salary of Rs 7,000. He later rose to the post of deputy manager.