BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: A day after arresting senior mining officer Debabrata Mohanty in a graft case, the Odisha Vigilance stumbled upon over Rs 4 crore in cash during a search at his flat here in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. It turned out to be the anti-corruption agency’s biggest-ever cash haul in the state.
Stacks of currency notes concealed in trolley bags and almirahs were seized from the residence of Mohanty, who was posted as deputy director of mines of the Cuttack circle. Vigilance officials said a total of Rs 4.27 crore in cash was unearthed from his flat in Bhubaneswar, and investigation is underway to find the source of the money.
Mohanty was apprehended on Tuesday evening while allegedly accepting a `30,000 bribe from a licensed coal vendor in exchange for ensuring the smooth operation of his coal depot and granting permission for coal transportation.
Following the trap, Vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him, including his rented residential flat at Nature’s Crest Apartment in the Shree Vihar area of Patia in the state capital, his parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak district, and his office chamber in Cuttack.
During the search, officials also recovered 305 grams of gold and 600 grams of silver ornaments, along with Rs 1.20 lakh in cash from his office drawer and personal possession. A double-storey building on approximately 2,400 sq ft at Pahala in Bhubaneswar was also found.
Mohanty was produced before the court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, following his arrest. Details of investments, deposits, insurance and savings are being ascertained, Vigilance officials said.
Mohanty had started his career as a mining officer (senior surveyor) in the mining office at Balangir in 2004 and worked in the same rank in Baripada, Berhampur, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar till 2018. He was promoted to the rank of assistant mining officer (chief surveyor) in March 2018 and was posted in Sambalpur.
Later, he served as the mining officer at Phulbani, overseeing Phulbani, Boudh and Nayagarh from April 2022 to December 2025. He joined as the Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack circle, from January 7 this year. His jurisdiction included Cuttack and Kendrapara districts.
Vigilance sources said this is the highest-ever cash recovered from the possession of an official during a raid in the state. The previous highest cash seizure by the anti-corruption agency was Rs 3.4 crore, recovered from the residence of an assistant engineer of the minor irrigation division in Ganjam district on April 7, 2022.