Keonjhar: Odisha Vigilance on Saturday arrested the Chief Construction Engineer in Keonjhar district in a Disproportionate Assets case.
The accused has been identified as Pravas Kumar Pradhan, Chief Construction Engineer, Anandpur Barrage Project, Salapada, Keonjhar (A/p SE, Irrigation Division, Balasore).
Pradhan has been placed under arrest by Odisha Vigilance and will be forwarded today to the Court for possession of disproportionate assets. In this connection, Balasore Vigilance PS case No.9/2024 has been registered against Pradhan.
Based on searches conducted on properties Pradhan was found in possession of disproportionate assets including one five-storeyed building, 1 Market complex, 85 Plots, gold of approx 335 gms, Deposits of over Rs.78 Lakhs, Cash of Rs 11.7 Lakhs etc, which he could not account for satisfactorily.
Pradhan is a native of Balasore District. He joined as a Stipendery Engineer in 1994. From 1996 to 1999 (3 years), he served in Mayurbhanj District. From 1999 to 2008, he served 9 years in Balasore District (Home District), during which he was promoted to AE.
Thereafter, he served 1 year each at Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj and 10 years in Embankment Division, Aul, Kendrapara, during which he was promoted to AEE and DEE.
In Dec 2020, he returned to Balasore (Home District) on promotion as EE and has continued till date. He was further promoted to SE in 2021 and recently to CE in July 2024.
In his latest property statement submitted in 2023, he has reflected on a few of the 85 plots. Besides, he has reflected on none of his buildings, namely the 5-storeyed building of approx 12, 500 sqft at Jaleswar, one newly constructed RCC roofed building with boundary wall and the Market complex spread over approx 6151 sqft at Gobara Ghat, Jaleswar. Investigation continuing.
