By Biswanath Dash
BHUBANESWAR:The Vigilance on Monday in a statement said, ex-constable Prasanna Behera, who is in Jail ,now , has possessed disproportionate Assets Worth Rs 6,97,15,057.On the allegation of possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income by Behera, Ex-Constable, Police Commissionerate, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, simultaneous house searches were conducted at 5 places i.e. 1) Govt. residential quarter at Kalpana Square,Bhubaneswar, 2) Spark furniture Pvt. Ltd. at Dumduma, Bhubaneswar, 3) Furniture Work Shop at Santha Vihar, Lingipur, Bhubaneswar, 4) South City Bar at Patrapada,Bhubaneswar, and 5) double storeyed building at his native village Nuapada, Khordha on 28.10.2021 by 5 teams of Odisha Vigilance led by 2 DSsP, 6 Inspectors and other staff on the strength of Search Warrants issued by the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar.
After thorough search, inventory and further enquiry, the income, expenditure and assets of Sri Prasanna Kumar Behera, Ex-Constable and his family members were calculated and they were found in possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income to the tune of Rs.6,97,15,057/- (Rupees Six Crore Ninety-seven Lakh Fifteen Thousand Fifty-seven) which constitutes 221% of their known sources of income. As Sri Prasanna Kumar Behera, Ex-Constable, Police Commissionerate, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and his family members were found in possession of disproportionate assets, which they could not account for satisfactorily, Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No.32 dt.30.10.2021 was registered against Sri Prasanna Kumar Behera and his spouse and family members U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b)/12 PC Act, 1988 as amended by Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Sri Prasanna Kumar Behera, Ex-Constable, Police Commissionerate, BhubaneswarCuttack is in judicial custody in Tamando PS Case No.221 dt.22.10.2021 since dt.23.10.2021. Investigation of the case is in progress to unearth further assets and evidence in the case.
Earlier, on allegations of Behera in operation of a bar at the hotel, DCP Umashankar Dash had directed Additional DCP to submit a report following probe and after which Behera was suspended and later he was dismissed from job. A video clip that surfaced on the internet showed lavish parties being held in the bar, where Journalists Nabin Das’s son had spent night before his body was found in a pond. All accused have been arrested and under judicial custody. Youngsters were seen dancing to loud music in the bar while female dancers were seen entertaining the customers. The bar has all the trappings of a Dance Bar as some customers were also seen showering wads of cash on the dancers. The bar which was co-managed by Behera was operating without license and flouting COVID-19 guidelines.
In the video clip shot in August, suspended constable Prasanna Behera, who was secretary of police constable association, was also seen dancing. He is said to be running the bar on lease. Notably, the body of Manish Anurag was recovered under mysterious circumstances from a pond at Patrapada on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Sunday October 10.
