In a shocking case of alleged corruption, the Odisha Vigilance Department has arrested a government data entry operator who had amassed wealth far beyond his known sources of income. The accused, S Partha Sarathi Bisoi, an accountant-cum-data entry operator (ADEO) at Batasana gram panchayat in Kotpad block of Koraput district, was found to own multiple properties, luxury vehicles, and a thriving cashew processing business. The vigilance raid, conducted across multiple locations, uncovered disproportionate assets worth several crores.
The Vigilance Raid and Findings
On Thursday, Odisha Vigilance conducted simultaneous raids at seven locations linked to Bisoi in Koraput district. The search led to the discovery of the following assets registered in his name and that of his family members:
- Three buildings, including a three-storey structure over 4,500 sq ft at Pailo Sahi, Boriguma, and two more buildings in Champia village.
- A cashew processing unit, Sai Krishna Enterprises, spread across 8,561 sq ft in Champia, Boriguma.
- 16 plots in Champia, Boriguma, and Gandhi Nagar (Nabarangpur district).
- Vehicles and machinery, including two concrete mixture machines, two paddy thrashers, three tractors, one water tanker, an SUV (Bolero), and three two-wheelers.
- Gold and cash, comprising 285 grams of gold jewelry, 706 grams of silver ornaments, and ₹2.45 lakh in cash.
Bisoi was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the vast assets, leading to his arrest on Friday.
Similar Cases in the Past
This case echoes several past instances where lower-ranking government employees were found in possession of disproportionate assets. Some notable examples include:
Odisha, 2021: A junior engineer in the Rural Works Department was found to have acquired wealth worth ₹5 crore, including multiple properties and luxury cars.
Karnataka, 2019: A government clerk was arrested after vigilance officials discovered illegal assets worth ₹10 crore, including land, apartments, and expensive jewelry.
Maharashtra, 2017: A government peon with a salary of ₹20,000 per month was found to own a fortune worth ₹8 crore, including properties in multiple cities.
The arrest of S Partha Sarathi Bisoi highlights the pervasive corruption even at lower levels of government service. The Odisha Vigilance Department’s action serves as a strong reminder of the need for stricter oversight, transparency, and accountability. As the investigation continues, more officials linked to this corruption scandal may come under scrutiny. Authorities must intensify anti-corruption efforts to safeguard public funds and ensure they are used for citizens’ welfare rather than personal enrichment.
