Odisha Vigilance Intercepts Lathikata Tahasildar, Seizes Rs 5 Lakh Cash

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday intercepted Muralidhar Urmal, Tahasildar-cum-Sub-Registrar of Lathikata in Sundargarh district, and recovered Rs 5 lakh in cash allegedly suspected to be disproportionate to his known sources of income, officials said.

According to an official statement, the Vigilance team acted on specific information and intercepted Urmal near Rajabasa Chhak in Lathikata while he was travelling towards his residence in Rourkela from his office. He was reportedly travelling in a hired Scorpio vehicle being used as his official vehicle.

The anti-corruption agency said Rs 5 lakh was found in Urmal’s possession during the interception. As he allegedly could not provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the cash, the amount was seized for further investigation. The vehicle in which he was travelling was also taken into custody.

Following the interception, Vigilance officials initiated simultaneous searches at three premises associated with the Tahasildar-cum-Sub-Registrar in connection with a disproportionate assets investigation.

The searches were underway at the time of the statement, with officials examining documents and other materials that could help establish the source of the seized cash and ascertain whether Urmal had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known income.

Further details are expected to emerge after completion of the searches and verification of the seized materials.