Latest news with #Vigilance
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Save Thrissur campaign launched against bid to block city's development
A 'Save Thrissur' public campaign has been launched alleging that a group of people, including real estate agents and certain officials linked to the Thrissur Corporation, are trying to torpedo development of the city. Congress councillor in the Corporation John Daniel, who initiated the campaign, accused this group with vested interests of deliberately helping to issue fake structural fitness certificates to aging and unsafe buildings in Thrissur city and surrounding areas to prevent their demolition. In a letter to the Mayor, Mr. Daniel demanded a Vigilance investigation into the alleged issuance of fake structural stability (fitness) certificates. According to the complaint, owners of dilapidated and unsafe buildings were illegally obtaining stability certificates — often without any scientific assessment. 'They are risking people's lives by issuing fitness certificates for buildings that are clearly unfit to occupy. One of the buildings near Swaraj Round, which collapsed recently, had allegedly received such a certificate, raising questions about the credibility of the process,' he noted. A list of 271 buildings identified as unsafe had been prepared during the tenure of the previous council, but many of these buildings were later certified as structurally stable, which stopped further action, Mr. Daniel pointed out. 'There is evidence that intermediaries are collecting large sums from building owners in exchange for fitness certificates.' He even accused the Mayor of concealing a structural report that had declared a Corporation-owned building at Ayyanthole — previously housing the family court — as unfit and recommended for demolition. Despite the warning, several businesses continued to operate from the premises, he said. The councillor alleged that these actions were part of a long-term attempt to reduce land value in the city by the land mafia. 'Their aim is to undermine the importance of Swaraj Round by shifting commercial and residential activity to the outskirts — a move that will benefit private real estate interests. ' He also questioned whether parts of the Corporation's Master Plan, including the Ring Road and mixed-use zone projects, were connected to this strategy. The letter demanding a Vigilance investigation into the misuse of structural stability certificates marks the first step of the 'Save Thrissur' campaign, he said. He said the movement would continue with further public action and legal steps to ensure accountability and to address the concerns about the city's stalled development.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Crorepati engineer in Vigilance net
BERHAMPUR: Vigilance officials on Sunday arrested an assistant executive engineer of Roads and Buildings (Division-1) in Berhampur for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets worth around Rs 5 crore. Following a tip-off, Vigilance sleuths conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations linked to the accused, N Dillip Kumar Choudhury, and his family members on Saturday. Sources said assets worth over Rs 4.9 crore were detected, which is around 119 per cent more than his income. Some of Choudhury's assets unearthed by the anti-corruption agency include a double-storeyed residential building in Berhampur's Mayuree Vihar valued at around Rs 1 crore, a three-BHK flat in Evos Exotica apartment in Bhubaneswar's Saheed Nagar worth over Rs 1 crore, a two-BHK flat at Spectrum Royale in Berhampur's Dharma Nagar valued at around Rs 50 lakh, 11 plots in Berhampur and its adjoining areas estimated to be worth Rs 2 crore, bank and insurance deposits amounting to around Rs 30 lakh, two two-wheelers and household articles worth over Rs 16 lakh. A case was registered against the engineer under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 following which he was arrested. 'Further investigation is underway to trace more undisclosed assets and determine the full extent of the financial irregularities,' said Vigilance officials.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Odisha govt engineer held on retirement day for amassing assets, disproportionate to income
An Odisha government engineer was arrested on the last day of his service on Saturday for allegedly amassing assets, disproportionate to his income, the state vigilance said. He was apprehended a day after Rs 2.56 crore in cash was recovered and several immovable assets were detected during search operations on the premises linked to the engineer, an official said. "Vigilance sleuths arrested Baikuntha Nath Sarangi , Chief Engineer, Plan Roads, RW (Rural Works) Department," he said. Sarangi, who was scheduled to retire from 34 years of service in the state government as an engineer on May 31, was booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 , the official said. The engineer would be produced before the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Angul, he said. Live Events The anti-corruption wing of the Odisha Police raided seven places linked to Sarangi on Friday. When a team of vigilance sleuths reached his residence, he had attempted to dispose of the bundles of Rs 500 notes by throwing them out of the window of his flat in Bhubaneswar, the official said. The engineer was found in possession of assets, including over Rs 2.56 crore in cash, two multi-storeyed buildings, two flats, seven high-value plots, bank deposits worth Rs 1.5 crore, investment in shares, mutual fund and insurance worth Rs 2.7 crore, gold of over 1.141 kilograms, 15 imported wrist watches and others. "These assets are disproportionate to his known source of income as he could not produce satisfactory documents to prove the source of cash and valuables," an official said, adding that the investigation is underway. The cash recovery from Sarangi's places was considered the third biggest seizure by the Odisha Vigilance . The highest cash seizure of Rs 3.41 crore was made from the house of a former assistant engineer of the minor irrigation division in Ganjam district in 2022. Over Rs 3.12 crore was recovered from the house of a former additional sub-collector, Nabarangpur, in 2023, sources in the vigilance said.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Odisha govt engineer held on retirement day for amassing assets, disproportionate to income
Bhubaneswar, An Odisha government engineer was arrested on the last day of his service on Saturday for allegedly amassing assets, disproportionate to his income, the state vigilance said. He was apprehended a day after ₹2.56 crore in cash was recovered and several immovable assets were detected during search operations on the premises linked to the engineer, an official said. "Vigilance sleuths arrested Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer, Plan Roads, RW Department," he said. Sarangi, who was scheduled to retire from 34 years of service in the state government as an engineer on May 31, was booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the official said. The engineer would be produced before the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Angul, he said. The anti-corruption wing of the Odisha Police raided seven places linked to Sarangi on Friday. When a team of vigilance sleuths reached his residence, he had attempted to dispose of the bundles of ₹500 notes by throwing them out of the window of his flat in Bhubaneswar, the official said. The engineer was found in possession of assets, including over ₹2.56 crore in cash, two multi-storeyed buildings, two flats, seven high-value plots, bank deposits worth ₹1.5 crore, investment in shares, mutual fund and insurance worth ₹2.7 crore, gold of over 1.141 kilograms, 15 imported wrist watches and others. "These assets are disproportionate to his known source of income as he could not produce satisfactory documents to prove the source of cash and valuables,' an official said, adding that the investigation is underway. The cash recovery from Sarangi's places was considered the third biggest seizure by the Odisha Vigilance. The highest cash seizure of ₹3.41 crore was made from the house of a former assistant engineer of the minor irrigation division in Ganjam district in 2022. Over ₹3.12 crore was recovered from the house of a former additional sub-collector, Nabarangpur, in 2023, sources in the vigilance said.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Day before retirement, Odisha govt engineer raided, Rs 2.56 crore seized as he flings cash out of window
Odisha's Vigilance Directorate on Friday seized assets worth crores, including Rs 2.56 crore in cash, during a search operation at the residence of a state government engineer, one day before his retirement. According to officials, the engineer tried to dispose of the cash by throwing bundles of Rs 500 notes out of the windows of his flat in Bhubaneswar when he saw Vigilance sleuths approaching. Vigilance conducted simultaneous searches at properties linked to Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, a chief engineer in the rural development department, at seven locations in Angul, Bhubaneswar and Pipili, officials said. The searches were part of investigations into allegations against him that he possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. According to Vigilance officials, the seized assets include two multi-storey buildings, two flats, seven high-value plots, deposits of Rs 1.5 crore, investment in shares and mutual funds worth Rs 2.7 crore, over 1.1 kg of gold and as many as 15 imported wrist watches. With the searches continuing, the Vigilance sleuths said more assets are likely to be unearthed. Vigilance director Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa said, 'The assets recovered seem to be disproportionate assets. We conducted searches after receiving reliable information.' Jethwa said Sarangi had attempted to dispose of the cash by throwing bundles of Rs 500 notes out of the windows of his flat in Bhubaneswar after he saw Vigilance officers approaching. 'We recovered all the cash as per the SOP (standard operating procedure) and the probe is going on,' the Vigilance director said. The chief engineer is likely to be arrested on Saturday, officials said. According to official records, Sarangi entered government service in 1991 as a stipendiary engineer at a consolidated pay of Rs 2,000 per month. After working in various parts of the state in different positions, he was promoted to the rank of additional chief engineer in January 2023 and chief engineer in February this year.
