Odisha’s Vigilance Directorate’s crackdown on high-ranking officials on Monday (August 12, 2024) reached the doorstep of Tara Prasad Mishra, former Chief Engineer of Roads and Building, who was found to be in possession of bank deposits totaling ₹2.7 crore and gold ornaments weighing 1.5 kg.
In the past month, vigilance searches at the premises of four senior engineers of the chief engineer level and two Odisha Administrative Service officials uncovered nearly 300 immovable properties, including over 250 parcels of land. When Vigilance Department officials arrived at Mr. Mishra’s residence in the morning, they were astounded by the extensive properties accumulated by the retired engineer.
Investigations revealed that he and his family members had purchased high-value apartments in Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda, located in prime areas and developed by top real estate companies. Besides, seven pieces of land were traced in upscale areas of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Jatani. Digging deeper, the anti-corruption bureau traced to Mr.
Mishra properties vastly disproportionate to the means of a State government employee. According to the Vigilance Directorate, bank deposits of over ₹2.7 crore, approximately 1.
5 kg of gold and cash over ₹6 lakh were found. The former engineer had collected foreign currencies from the U.S.
, Thailand, Vietnam, UAE, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia and Singapore. He was found to have spent ₹80 lakh towards his daughter’s medical education. Besides, tw.