Major Vigilance Raid in Odisha: Key Highlights
- Location & Target:
- Anti-Corruption Vigilance team conducted a major raid in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Target: Baikunthanath Sarangi, Chief Engineer of the Rural Works Department.
- Seizures Made:
- Unaccounted cash worth ₹2.1 crore recovered from Sarangi’s residence.
- Gold, silver, jewellery, and even diamonds also found.
- Lady officers were seen counting brand-new sarees, suspected to contain hidden valuables.
- Cash-counting machines reportedly overheated multiple times due to the volume of cash.
- Extent of the Operation:
- Raids were carried out at 60 locations linked to Sarangi in Bhubaneswar, Angul, and Puri districts.
- Over 26 officers involved: 8 Deputy SPs, 12 Inspectors, 6 Sub-Inspectors (SIs).
- Simultaneous raids still ongoing in Noida, Bengaluru, and Patna.
- Notable Incident:
- As the raid began, Sarangi allegedly threw bundles of ₹500 notes out of his window in panic.
- Political Context & Commentary:
- The raids come after BJP’s rise to power in Odisha, as part of a broader anti-corruption drive under PM Narendra Modi.
- Modi government’s ED (Enforcement Directorate) has reportedly seized ₹1.5 lakh crore so far from corrupt individuals.
- Accusations that 17 political parties (including Congress, AAP, SP, TMC) tried to weaken ED powers by approaching the Supreme Court.
- Reference to Past Cases:
- TMC’s Partha Chatterjee case: Mountains of cash found at aide Arpita’s house.
- Akhilesh Yadav’s associate: ₹150 crore recovered.
- Congress leaders in Jharkhand: Huge sums found in homes of party officials and staff.
- Criticism of Judicial Delays:
- Strong criticism of how judicial delays allow the corrupt to escape swift justice.
- Example cited: Arvind Kejriwal, Satyendra Jain cases dragging in court.
- Call for tougher anti-corruption laws, faster prosecution, and minimum 15–20 years imprisonment for such crimes.
- Public Sentiment:
- Visuals of cash heaps and luxury items sparked national outrage.
- General belief: Fear of ED is growing among corrupt officials.
- Demand that Income Tax and ED actions be strengthened and loopholes closed.
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