Berhampur: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at five locations linked to Panchu Behera, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Daha Irrigation Sub-Division in Ganjam district, over allegations of possession of disproportionate assets.
Officials carried out the searches on the basis of warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur. A team comprising three Deputy Superintendents of Police, seven inspectors, and other staff led the operation across multiple premises in Ganjam district.
The searches covered his triple-storeyed residential building at Basant Vihar in Berhampur, a government quarter at Bhanjanagar, his office chamber in Bhanjanagar, his paternal house at Polasara, and a relative’s house at Bima Nagar in Berhampur, according to Odisha Vigilance.
During the searches, vigilance officials unearthed cash amounting to Rs 18.90 lakh, including Rs 15.13 lakh from his residential house in Berhampur and Rs 3.72 lakh from the government quarter at Bhanjanagar.
Investigators also detected a triple-storeyed building with an area of around 3,550 square feet at Basant Vihar in Berhampur and five valuable plots in and around the town. The vigilance technical wing is carrying out measurement and valuation of these properties.
Officials further found a concrete mixer machine purchased in 2024 for about Rs 57 lakh and a JCB machine purchased in 2025 for around Rs 37 lakh. A four-wheeler and three two-wheelers were also identified during the searches.
Bank and postal deposits, along with other financial investments, are being examined. The weighing and assessment of gold ornaments are also underway.
Behera joined government service on September 27, 2011, as an Assistant Engineer with a consolidated salary of Rs 9,300 per month. He was initially posted in the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department at Koksara block in Kalahandi district and served there until November 2015.
He later worked at the Dharmagarh block in Kalahandi and subsequently at the Chakapada block in Phulbani district until April 2022. He returned to the Irrigation Department in April 2022 and has since been serving as Sub-Divisional Officer at Daha Irrigation Sub-Division under Bhanjanagar Irrigation Division in Ganjam district.
Odisha Vigilance said the investigation is ongoing and further details are awaited as the assessment of assets continues.
