In a swift anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance intercepted a senior revenue official on Thursday and seized ₹5 lakh in cash he could not satisfactorily explain, raising serious questions about the source of the money.
Muralidhar Urmal, Tahasildar-cum-Sub-Registrar of Lathikata in Sundaragada district, was stopped near Rajabasa Chhak while travelling in a hired office Scorpio (registration OD-14AL-1327) from his Lathikata office to his residence in Raurkela. Acting on specific information about alleged large-scale cash collections, a Vigilance team had been monitoring his movements.
During the interception, officials recovered ₹5,00,000 in cash from his possession. Urmal failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the amount. Both the cash and the vehicle were seized on the spot.
Immediately after the interception, simultaneous searches were launched at three locations: Urmal’s residential building at Civil Township, E-43, Raurkela; his ancestral house in village Karamdihi under Sundargarh Sadar police station; and his official chamber at Lathikata Tahasil. The official has been detained for further interrogation as the enquiry continues.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Odisha Vigilance to curb corruption in the revenue administration. Further details are awaited as searches and questioning progress.
