By Biswanath Dash
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Vigilance officials which has been conducting raids at several places to unearth ill-gotten properties of ex-constable, Prasanna Behera, found themselves in surprise after initial assessment.
Vigilance said , Spark Furniture Show room at Dumduma, Khandagiri on plot bearing area around 0.250 acre has been registered in 2019 at a consideration value of Rs.1 Crore 47 Lakh 60 Thousand. Actual market value much higher. Showroom built up area is around 18000 square-feet both Ground floor and basement included. Approx building cost over 2 Crores.
Vigilance Technical Wing deputed to carry out valuation of buildings. Vigilance Finance Wing and Vigilance Forest Wing personnel along with professional furniture manufacturer roped in for valuation of huge number of costly furniture items displayed in the showroom.
Source of purchase of plot and construction of showroom and furniture items will be thoroughly probed.
Odisha Vigilance is carrying out search at the following places on the strength of Search Warrant issued by Hon’ble Spl. Judge Vigilance, Bhubaneswar in Misc Case no. 9/2021 reg. possession of D.A. by Prasanna Kumar Behera S/o Sadananda Behera Ex-Constable, Commissionerate, in Bhubaneswar .
The Vigilance sleuths conducting raids at Residential Quarter no. G-12-Police, Kalpana Square and it’s extension building, Spark Furniture Pvt. Ltd, located at Dumduma, Furniture Work shop located at Santhavihar, Lingipur, South City Bar located at Patrapada and double storeyed building at his native Village Nuapada, dist. Khordha. 5 teams led by 2 DSPs, 6 Inspectors and other officers engaged in the searches. Further report follows.
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.
