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Late on the night of September 10, Odisha Vigilance officials intercepted two auditors of the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste (ST/SC) Department of the Government of Odisha in Baripada, seizing a total of Rs 14,38,340 collectively.
The auditors were travelling from the District Welfare Office (DWO) in Baripada to their hotel, Mohapatra Hotel on Roxy Lane, in an official Scorpio vehicle belonging to the DWO. They had just finished their audit work for the day. During the interception, vigilance teams recovered Rs 5,51,510 in cash from the two men. The money was found packed in 52 envelopes and 20 loose bundles. The auditors could not give a satisfactory explanation for the large amount of cash they were carrying. Officials treated it as suspected ill-gotten money. Following the interception, vigilance teams searched the auditors hotel rooms. They recovered an additional Rs 8,86,830 in cash. The total amount seized from the two auditors came to Rs 14,38,340. Both men are now being questioned to find out the source of the money. Searches linked to the case are continuing at other locations under the Prevention of Corruption Act (disproportionate assets angle). The two auditors had been in Baripada since August 30. They first audited the DWO office in the town. After that, they began auditing Ashram schools, Sevashram schools, high schools, higher secondary schools and SSD hostels that come under the SC/ST Department. They ordered headmasters and hostel in-charges to come to Baripada with all school and hostel files and registers. Vigilance authorities had received complaints that the auditors were demanding a bribe of Rs 10 for every enrolled student. The money was allegedly sought to ensure a smooth audit of the schools and hostels. After checking the information, the vigilance team decided to intercept the auditors. Superintendent of Police (SP), Vigilance, Arun Kumar Nayak, said the department received specific information that officials from the SC/ST audit wing based in Bhubaneswar were collecting bribes from headmasters and in-charge headmasters of about 100 schools during the audit process. On the instructions of the Director General of Vigilance, a team was formed. The team caught the two auditors at Mohapatra Hotel in Baripada under the Town Police Station limits. Searches connected to the case are still going on. A further report will be released once more details become available. The case has drawn attention because the auditors were supposed to check the proper use of government funds meant for tribal and Scheduled Caste students in schools and hostels. Instead of ensuring transparency, they are now accused of demanding money from school authorities. The large amount of unexplained cash recovered both from their possession and from their hotel rooms has strengthened the suspicion of corruption. Vigilance officials are examining whether the cash was collected as bribes from multiple schools over the past few days. They are also checking the movement and activities of the auditors since their arrival in Baripada on 30 August. The two men remain under interrogation as the investigation continues. (ANI)
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