Vigilance Cracks Down on Corruption in Odisha: 199 Govt Officials Caught in 15 Months
Bhubaneswar, Sept 22 : In the past 15 months, Odisha’s Vigilance Department has taken major steps to combat corruption across the state. A total of 199 government officials have been caught for their involvement in corrupt practices. Out of these, 77 major disproportionate assets (DA) cases have been registered, while 122 cases were filed specifically related to bribery and accepting illegal gratification.
Odisha Vigilance has seized assets worth a staggering ₹202.58 crore, which includes a wide variety of movable and immovable properties. Among the confiscated items were ₹8.38 crore in cash, 218 flats, 775 plots, 13 farmhouses, and a significant quantity of gold jewellery weighing 25 kg 553 grams, including 16 gold biscuits. In addition, officials uncovered ₹44.21 crore in bank deposits and ₹43.02 crore in insurance holdings belonging to corrupt individuals.
This information was shared in the Odisha Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in a written response to a question raised by Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy. The Chief Minister further revealed that between July 1, 2024, and September 15, 2025, the Vigilance Department conducted raids on the residences of 77 government officials suspected of accumulating wealth beyond their known sources of income.
He added that in the last five years, 3,661 corruption-related cases are currently under judicial trial, while 722 cases remain under investigation. So far, charge sheets have been filed against 785 individuals, and 170 have been convicted.
While several high-profile accused individuals have already been arrested and sent to judicial custody, investigations are ongoing against others. In some cases, arrests have been delayed due to the need for gathering more substantial evidence.
This crackdown is seen as a strong message from the Odisha government regarding its commitment to eliminating corruption and ensuring accountability within the state administration.
