Ex-Social Welfare Officer Under Vigilance Scanner Over DA Charges

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Thursday launched simultaneous house searches at properties linked to Jayanti Behera, a former District Social Welfare Officer, Bhadrak, A/p posted at W&CD Department in Bhubaneswar.

Reportedly, the Vigilance team is led by one Additional SP, 4 DSPs, 8 Inspectors, and other staff. It is being conducted on the strength of search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Balasore.

The simultaneous house searches are undertaken at 11 places in Bhubaneswar, Balasore, and Bhadrak. These locations are:

A residential triple-storeyed building of Behera, located at Firingpatana under the Sahadevkhunta police station limits in Balasore district.

A triple-storeyed building located at Ganeswarpur (Sidheswar Colony), Januganj, under Industrial police limits in Balasore district.

A half-constructed double-storeyed building at Ganeswarpur (Sidheswar Colony), Januganj under Industrial police limits in the Balasore district.

A flat, No. C/44 (3-BHK), in Royal Residency at Goutam Nagar, Bhubaneswar (Kalpana Square, Bhubaneswar).

A flat, No.B-209 (3-BHK), at Stalwart Apartment, Old Town, Bhubaneswar.

The office chamber of Jayanti Behera at W&CD Department, Bhubaneswar.

A residential rented house of Jayanti Behera in Bhadrak located in Bhadrak district.

The office chamber at the office of DSWO, Bhadrak (which she relieved on June 4, 2023, but the charge was not handed over).

Office chamber of Rohit Kumar Mandal (son of Jayanti Behera), Call Centre Executive (CCE), in the office of P.D., DRDA in Balasore.

A house of her relative located at Sunhat, Balasore.

The house of her associate (contractor and supplier of RTE Chhatua), located at Chidiapola, Balasore Town.

According to the Odisha Vigilance Department, the searches are still underway and a further report is awaited.