Bhubaneswar, July 24: Odisha Vigilance officials have arrested Jagannath Pattnaik, Executive Engineer of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), on charges of possessing disproportionate assets (DA) far exceeding his known sources of income. The arrest came following extensive raids on Pattnaik’s properties in and around Bhubaneswar.

During the search operations, the Vigilance team uncovered a massive haul of unaccounted assets, including three multi-storeyed buildings, a farmhouse, and three high-value plots in prime areas of Bhubaneswar. Additionally, officials seized 460 grams of gold jewellery, bank and insurance deposits worth over ₹80 lakh, a four-wheeler (Maruti Grand Vitara), a country-made gun, and a pair of antler horns.

Pattnaik reportedly failed to provide any credible explanation for the source of this wealth, prompting his immediate arrest. A case has been registered against him under Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 16/2025).

In a separate development, the Forest Department has registered another case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for the illegal possession of wildlife items, particularly the antler horns (OR Case No. 3/2025 at Balipatna Forest Range). Further investigation is underway to assess the full extent of his illegal assets.

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