Vigilance raid on senior mining official marks biggest recovery in state history
February 25, 2026: In a major crackdown on alleged bureaucratic corruption, the Odisha Vigilance department has seized over ₹4 crore in cash from the Bhubaneswar residence of Debabrata Mohanty, Deputy Director of Mines for the Cuttack Circle. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officials conducted a raid that led to the recovery of large stacks of currency, reportedly the biggest cash seizure in the agency’s history.
Investigators suspect that the recovered money far exceeds Mohanty’s known sources of income and may be linked to irregularities within Odisha’s lucrative mining sector. The operation is being viewed as a significant move against alleged “mining mafia” influence within the administration. Officials are currently verifying documents and financial records to trace the origin of the funds and identify potential links to bribery or kickbacks.
The accused officer is under sustained interrogation as authorities attempt to uncover a broader network behind the suspected corruption. The vigilance department has indicated that further action may follow as the probe progresses, reinforcing the state’s commitment to tackling high-level financial misconduct within key government departments.