The Odisha Vigilance Department on Thursday arrested Ramachandra Satpathy, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) posted in Athmallik block of Angul district. He has been charged with possessing assets that are far greater than what he could have earned through his legal income.
What Did Vigilance Officials Find?
This arrest came after a series of raids on Wednesday at properties linked to Satpathy. During these searches, officials uncovered an astonishing amount of wealth, which included:
- A double-storey house located in Gayatri Nagar, Dhenkanal (Ward No. 15)
- 22 plots of land, including:
- 1 plot in Barang, Cuttack
- 21 plots in and around Dhenkanal town
- Cash and valuables:
- Rs 1.16 crore in bank deposits
- Rs 23.95 lakh in cash recovered from the house of his son-in-law, Dr. Tapan Tripathy
- 350 grams of gold jewellery
- Household items worth Rs 17.31 lakh
- Vehicles:
- 2 four-wheelers
- 2 two-wheelers
- Registered in the names of Satpathy and his son-in-law, Tripathy
Additionally, investigators noted that the official land values (from Registered Sale Deeds) of the plots ranged between Rs 60 lakh to Rs 85 lakh, but the actual market value is suspected to be much higher.
Career Timeline of the Accused
Ramachandra Satpathy has been in government service since October 1989, beginning as a Junior Engineer (JE). Over the years, he served in several districts:
- Malkangiri
- Talcher
- Kendrapada
- Deogarh
- Angul
His career progression:
- 2020: Promoted to Assistant Engineer, posted in Kaniha block, Angul
- 2022: Promoted to Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), posted in Athmallik block
Despite a long service career, Satpathy could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the wealth he had accumulated. This led the Vigilance Department to conclude that his assets were disproportionate to his known legal income.
Legal Action and Next Steps
Following the raids and evaluation of evidence, Vigilance officials arrested Satpathy under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigations are underway to trace any benami (proxy-owned) properties or additional hidden assets.
Corruption in government services affects development and public trust. This case highlights how some public servants misuse their positions to accumulate wealth illegally. It also demonstrates the Odisha Vigilance’s efforts to crack down on such cases and hold officers accountable.
