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Massive Wealth Found with Engineer; Major Operation by Vigilance Department
Bhubaneswar/Baliguda (Odisha), June 7, 2026: The Odisha Vigilance Department conducted raids at nine locations linked to a government engineer on Saturday (June 6). During the operation, ?2 crore in cash, over 300 grams of gold, five buildings, and 13 plots were seized. Even the officials were stunned by the sheer scale of the assets discovered.
The prime accused in the case, Baikuntha Nath Behera, is an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA). He is accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The operation was carried out in Baliguda, Kandhamal district.
**Piles of Cash in Lockers**
Cash amounting to ?2 crore and over 300 grams of gold were seized from two bank lockers held in the name of Behera's wife. Upon seeing the stacks of currency notes, officials immediately summoned a cash-counting machine from the bank. The fact that a machine was required to count such a large sum astonished everyone.
**Extensive List of Assets**
The investigation has so far revealed five buildings and 13 plots. These include luxurious buildings in Bhubaneswar's Niladri Vihar, Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, and Chandrasekharpur areas. Additionally, a building constructed on ancestral land in Dharmasala, Jajpur, was seized. Thirteen high-value plots across Bhubaneswar, Jajpur, and Baripada also came to light during the operation.
**From Modest Salary to Immense Wealth**
The 52-year-old Baikuntha Nath Behera had started his career as a Junior Engineer in 1999 with a salary of just ?6,000. He was promoted to Assistant Engineer in 2016 and to the post of AEE in February 2026. The Vigilance Department is investigating how such immense wealth was amassed within such a short period.
This action is reported to be part of the Odisha government's anti-corruption drive. Further investigation is underway, and it is anticipated that more assets may come to light.
Bhubaneswar/Baliguda (Odisha), June 7, 2026: The Odisha Vigilance Department conducted raids at nine locations linked to a government engineer on Saturday (June 6). During the operation, ?2 crore in cash, over 300 grams of gold, five buildings, and 13 plots were seized. Even the officials were stunned by the sheer scale of the assets discovered.
The prime accused in the case, Baikuntha Nath Behera, is an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA). He is accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The operation was carried out in Baliguda, Kandhamal district.
**Piles of Cash in Lockers**
Cash amounting to ?2 crore and over 300 grams of gold were seized from two bank lockers held in the name of Behera's wife. Upon seeing the stacks of currency notes, officials immediately summoned a cash-counting machine from the bank. The fact that a machine was required to count such a large sum astonished everyone.
**Extensive List of Assets**
The investigation has so far revealed five buildings and 13 plots. These include luxurious buildings in Bhubaneswar's Niladri Vihar, Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, and Chandrasekharpur areas. Additionally, a building constructed on ancestral land in Dharmasala, Jajpur, was seized. Thirteen high-value plots across Bhubaneswar, Jajpur, and Baripada also came to light during the operation.
**From Modest Salary to Immense Wealth**
The 52-year-old Baikuntha Nath Behera had started his career as a Junior Engineer in 1999 with a salary of just ?6,000. He was promoted to Assistant Engineer in 2016 and to the post of AEE in February 2026. The Vigilance Department is investigating how such immense wealth was amassed within such a short period.
This action is reported to be part of the Odisha government's anti-corruption drive. Further investigation is underway, and it is anticipated that more assets may come to light.
The prime accused in the case, Baikuntha Nath Behera, is an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA). He is accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The operation was carried out in Baliguda, Kandhamal district.
**Piles of Cash in Lockers**
Cash amounting to ?2 crore and over 300 grams of gold were seized from two bank lockers held in the name of Behera's wife. Upon seeing the stacks of currency notes, officials immediately summoned a cash-counting machine from the bank. The fact that a machine was required to count such a large sum astonished everyone.
**Extensive List of Assets**
The investigation has so far revealed five buildings and 13 plots. These include luxurious buildings in Bhubaneswar's Niladri Vihar, Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, and Chandrasekharpur areas. Additionally, a building constructed on ancestral land in Dharmasala, Jajpur, was seized. Thirteen high-value plots across Bhubaneswar, Jajpur, and Baripada also came to light during the operation.
**From Modest Salary to Immense Wealth**
The 52-year-old Baikuntha Nath Behera had started his career as a Junior Engineer in 1999 with a salary of just ?6,000. He was promoted to Assistant Engineer in 2016 and to the post of AEE in February 2026. The Vigilance Department is investigating how such immense wealth was amassed within such a short period.
This action is reported to be part of the Odisha government's anti-corruption drive. Further investigation is underway, and it is anticipated that more assets may come to light.
