Odisha Vigilance officers began with a raid on Assistant Engineer Rajkishore Jena’s residence. While scanning his documents, investigators stumbled upon something unusual: a flat registered not just in Jena’s wife’s name but jointly with the wife of another assistant engineer—Ashok Kumar Panda.
That single document triggered suspicion and swift action. A separate team was dispatched to raid Panda’s home. They feared he may have been tipped off about Jena’s raid and could be hiding evidence or laundering assets.
Hiding Behind Locked Doors—But Not for Long
When the team arrived at Panda’s residence, they found the house locked and all mobile phones switched off. Hours passed. As they prepared to seal the house, whispers from inside gave the game away.
They broke in and found Panda, his family, and bags stuffed with cash, jewellery, and property papers—some hanging outside the window in a frantic attempt to hide them. It wasn’t just a coincidence. It was a cover-up in motion.
A Fortune Far Beyond a Government Paycheck
The findings that followed stunned the state.
- 12 posh flats, many in upscale housing societies
- 10 high-value plots, including seven in Bhubaneswar and one in Puri
- Shops in prime malls, including Utkal Kanika Galleria, Symphony Mall, and DLF Cyber City
- Two buildings, including one four-storey property in Dumduma
- Gold and silver ornaments, 125 gm and 117 gm respectively
- Cash deposits: Rs 47.23 lakh in banks and post offices
- Household articles worth Rs 21 lakh
Notably, one 4BHK flat on the 16th floor of Cosmopolis was jointly purchased by Panda and Jena in their wives’ names—a link that likely triggered their downfall.
From Rs 5,000 Salary to Crores in Real Estate
Panda began his career as a contractual junior engineer in 2007 with a salary of Rs 5,000. His service was regularised in 2013, and by December 2020, he had risen to assistant engineer with a monthly salary of Rs 79,000.
How did a mid-level government employee accumulate assets worth crores? That’s the question now haunting the vigilance bureau and the public alike.
As investigations continue, the case stands as a reminder: corruption leaves trails—and sometimes, they begin with something as small as a shared name on a property deed.