Odisha’s ‘most corrupt’ engineer Pravas Pradhan lands in jail

By Sudam Patra

Balasore, Aug. 3: Perhaps is the most known corrupt engineer of Odisha. Yes, Pravas Kumar Pradhan, chief construction engineer, Anandpur Barrage project (Keonjhar), who was arrested by Odisha vigilance department on Saturday in connection with a disproportionate assets case, has now finally landed in jail.

His bail plea was rejected by the court.

The development comes after it was found that the chief construction engineer was in possession of 85 plots, besides other multiple properties like buildings and flats.

Senior Vigilance officials informed that the chief construction engineer was produced before the court and later remanded in judicial custody. He was arrested after he was found in possession of disproportionate assets including a five-storeyed building, 1 market complex, 335 grams of gold, deposits to the tune of Rs 78 lakh, Rs 11.7 lakh cash during a raid conducted on his properties.

The Vigilance officials had conducted raids on the properties linked to the chief construction engineer at seven places in Balasore on August 2, 2024.

Two Additional superintendents of police, 4 deputy superintendents of police, six Inspectors, seven assistant sub-inspectors and other staff had conducted a massive search based on the strength of search warrants issued by Special Vigilance Judge, Balasore.

Never before in the history of Odisha Vigilance department were such a large number of plots owned by any official detected.

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Photograph: Arrested superintending engineer Pravas Kumar Pradhan