By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Following end of 5 days remand of former Additional Sub-Collector Prasant Rout, who has been given compulsory retirement by Odisha Government , the Odisha Vigilance found as many as 6 Benami Bank Accounts of this arrested former OAS officer Rout.
Besides, 3 more plots in Bhadrak and Bhubaneswar which included 2 Benami plots, also unearthed. Rout, Ex-Addl. Sub-Collector, Nawarangpur was brought on 5 day remand on orders passed by Hon’ble Spl. Judge Vigilance, Sundargarh w.e.f. 28.06.2023 and interrogated in disproportionate assets (DA) case by a team of Odisha Vigilance.
During interrogation, 3 more plots including 1 at Bhadrak measuring an area of Ac. 1.15 decimal in the name of spouse of Sri Rout, 2 benami plots i.e. 1 at Malipada, Bhubaneswar measuring an area of Ac. 0.16 decimal and 1 at Bhadrak measuring an area of Ac. 0.47 decimal were unearthed. During interrogation, he confessed to have opened six benami accounts in the name of different persons and deposited Rs. 1.2 Crore. This apart, one Bank locker at UCO Bank, Bhadrak was traced.
On 24.06.2023, Sri Prasanta Kumar Rout, Ex-Addl. Sub-Collector, Nawarangpur was arrested by Odisha Vigilance and forwarded to the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Sundargarh for possession of disproportionate assets worth Rs.5,21,09,659/-(506% of his known sources of income), which he could not account for satisfactorily. In this connection, Rourkela Vigilance PS Case No.15/2023 was registered against Sri Prasanta Kumar Rout, Ex-Addl. Sub- Collector, Nawarangpur and his spouse U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b)/ 12 P.C. Amendment Act, 2018. Investigation of the case is in progress.