Odisha: Engineer Throws Cash In Air To Avoid Arrest, Vigilance Officers Seize Rs 2 Crore

How will you feel if you see Rs 500 notes pouring from sky? Yes! You read it right. This film-like scene happened in reality in Odisha, where Vigilance Department officers conducted a raid, and the accused started throwing cash out of the window. According to the reports, officials got a tip about unaccounted Rs 2.1 crore linked to Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, who serves as the Chief Engineer (Plan Roads) for the Rural Works Department. Following the information, a vigilance team of 8 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 12 Inspectors, and 6 Assistant Sub-Inspectors conducted a raid.

During the raid, to avoid being caught red-handed, Sarangi started discarding and throwing cash out of the window of his apartment.

An official told the media, "On seeing the vigilance officers, Sri Sarangi threw cash bundles of Rs 500 notes through the window of his flat. The same was recovered in the presence of witnesses by the search team of Vigilance." This act of desperation highlighted the lengths to which individuals might go to conceal their ill-gotten wealth."

Approximately Rs 1 crore was found in a flat in Dumduma, Bhubaneswar, while his residence in Karadagadia, Angul district, concealed around Rs 1.1 crore. The properties under investigation included a mix of residential and office premises, all of which were scrutinized for signs of disproportionate assets.

The counting of the seized cash was carried out with the aid of counting machines, confirming the total amount to be around Rs 2.1 crores. The vigilance officials have announced that the investigation into Sarangi's assets continues, with a detailed assessment ongoing to determine the full extent of his undeclared wealth.