Bhubaneswar: A major operation by Odisha Vigilance has revealed considerable assets, including 11 valuable plots and two buildings, associated with Suresh Kumar Dalabehera, the Principal of Government ITI in Balangir. Dalabehera was apprehended for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe of Rs 30,000.
During the searches conducted on multiple locations connected to Dalabehera and his relatives, investigators discovered gold jewelry weighing approximately 263 grams and a cash sum of Rs 5.16 lakh, according to a Vigilance report released on Saturday.
The raids were initiated following Dalabehera’s arrest on Friday regarding the bribery allegations. Among the assets uncovered were two buildings, one being a two-storey structure located in Raurkela. Furthermore, a total of 11 valuable plots were identified across Raurkela, Sundargarh, Jatani, Cuttack, and Mahakalpada in Kendrapada district.
In addition to the properties, the search yielded 263 grams of gold jewelry, approximately 2.5 kg of silver ornaments, and Rs 5.16 lakh in cash. Vigilance officials also located one Hyundai car and three two-wheelers registered to Dalabehera and his family.
It is pertinent to mention that Dalabehera was detained by Vigilance officials on November 6 while he was reportedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from an instructor and other guest instructors at the Government ITI in Balangir.
The complaint alleged that he had demanded a total bribe of Rs 1.15 lakh from nine guest instructors to ensure their job security and timely salary payments, with threats to terminate their services if they did not comply.
After the complaint was filed, a Vigilance team set a trap at Balangir Railway Station, where Dalabehera was caught receiving Rs 30,000, an installment of the bribe. The entire amount was confiscated from him.
Subsequent to the trap, simultaneous searches were conducted at three locations associated with him to probe into claims of assets that exceeded his legitimate income sources.
Dalabehera has been arrested and will be presented before the Special Judge, Vigilance Court in Balangir.
In this case, the Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station has registered an investigation under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and the inquiry into the discovered assets is ongoing.
