BHUBANESWAR: Vigilance sleuths on Tuesday raided the property linked to Jatni Municipality executive officer (EO) Surjyamani Pattajoshi, and unearthed assets worth crores including three flats in the state capital and two multi-storey buildings in Berhampur.
Vigilance officials said the searches were carried out at 10 locations across the state including Pattajoshi’s paternal house at Sorada in Ganjam, and his official residence along with his officer chamber at Jatni Municipality.
Following the raid, Vigilance teams found a flat at Stalwart Pravati Mansion in Jagamara and two 2-BHK flats at Sriram Mansion in Kharvel Nagar and Green Square Residency in BJB Nagar area of the city.
The teams also detected one four-storey building and another double-storey building of Pattajoshi in Berhampur. Vigilance officials said Pattajoshi had also paid Rs 50.40 lakh in advance to Harshapriya Construction to purchase a 4.5 BHK flat in the name of his spouse in a posh area of Bhubaneswar.
The officer and his family members were also found in possession of 11 high-value plots in Jatni, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and other parts of Ganjam.
The teams also recovered Rs 17 lakh cash, 150 gram gold ornaments and bank deposits worth Rs 76 lakh besides seizing one four-wheeler and three two-wheelers following the raids. “Some of the property suspected to be ‘benami’ are under verification,” the officials said adding, they are yet to examine a bank locker that Pattajoshi had opened in his spouse’s name at an SBI branch in Berhampur.
The value of the assets unearthed is under examination. “Pattajoshi is also being questioned about the source of these assets disproportionate to his known source of income,” the officials said adding, more such assets are likely to be detected.