Balangir Govt Ayurvedic College Principal Arrested in Disproportionate Assets Probe

Bhubaneswar: Sudarshan Behera, the Principal of Government Ayurvedic College & Hospital in Balangir, has been arrested by Odisha Vigilance on charges of possessing disproportionate assets in relation to his known income. Behera was presented before the Special Judge, Vigilance, in the capital city.

The Vigilance Department filed a case against Behera under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Subsequent house searches by the Vigilance team revealed significant movable and immovable assets belonging to Behera and his family members.

The identified assets include a three-storey residential building in Sakhigopal Block Chhak, Puri district, a two-storey building in Sriramchandrapur near Satyabadi, Puri, and another building over plot No.1723/588, Khata No.1733/345 at Sorisiapada in Gop area of Puri district. Additionally, 28 plots in prime locations of Odisha’s capital, Gop, Pipili, and Satyabadi in Puri district were uncovered.

Further discoveries included gold jewellery weighing approximately 250 grams, three four-wheelers (Honda City 5th Gen ZX, Mahindra Scorpio & Toyota ETIOS Cross-G), and a two-wheeler with a combined value exceeding Rs 32 lakh.

According to Vigilance officials, Behera and his family possessed assets that were 113% more than their known sources of income. The case underscores the Vigilance department’s commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring accountability.