Odisha Vigilance officials on Monday searched seven properties linked to Jayadev Jena, assistant block education officer of Dharmasala in Jajpur district, and reported preliminary findings of three buildings, 19 plots, vehicles and other assets during an investigation into alleged possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The simultaneous searches were conducted under warrants issued by the special judge, vigilance, Berhampur. The operation involved three additional superintendents of police, four deputy superintendents of police, nine inspectors and other supporting personnel, according to vigilance officials.
The properties under examination include a triple-storeyed building measuring about 4,300 square feet at Patrapada in Bhubaneswar. Investigators also identified a double-storeyed building of approximately 3,850 square feet and another structure measuring nearly 7,100 square feet at P Nuagaon in Ganjam district. The buildings were described as being linked to Jena and his family members.
Vigilance officials also detected 19 plots located across Bhubaneswar, Khallikote and Kodala in Ganjam district. The discovery of the properties does not by itself establish whether the assets were acquired unlawfully. The technical wing of the vigilance department is measuring and valuing the immovable properties to determine their worth as part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigators are separately verifying gold jewellery, bank deposits and other financial investments associated with Jena and his family members. An SUV and two two-wheelers were also found during the searches. The exercise is intended to establish the total value and ownership details of the assets and compare them with the official’s known sources of income.
The case places the administrative scrutiny of a public official across multiple locations, including Bhubaneswar and parts of Ganjam district. For the vigilance agency, the property measurements, valuation exercise and examination of financial records will determine the scale of the alleged disproportion and the next stage of the proceedings.
The searches were continuing until late Monday evening, and vigilance officials said a detailed assessment of the assets was still under way. No final valuation was provided in the report. The department’s technical wing is expected to complete the measurement and valuation process before investigators establish the consolidated value of the properties and other assets under examination.
