Odisha MVI Arrested: 44 Plots, 1 Kg Gold Unearthed in Corruption Crackdown

Odisha Vigilance sleuths arrested Golap Chandra Hansdah, a Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) in Boudh district, on Monday after uncovering assets vastly disproportionate to his known income, including 44 high-value plots, 1 kg of gold, and Rs 1.34 crore in bank deposits. The arrest, part of a broader anti-corruption drive, followed raids on August 3, 2025, across six locations in Baripada, Boudh, and Bhubaneswar, triggered by allegations of illicit wealth accumulation. Hansdah, who joined government service in 1991 and earns Rs 1.08 lakh monthly, faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and was presented before the Special Vigilance Judge in Baripada.

The raids revealed a staggering portfolio: 43 plots in and around Baripada, one in Sribantpur, Balasore, valued at Rs 1.49 crore, and a 3,300-square-foot double-storeyed building in Prafulla Nagar, Baripada. Authorities seized Rs 2.38 lakh in cash, 250 grams of gold jewelry, two 50-gram gold biscuits, 2 kg of silver, and a diary detailing benami transactions, including Rs 40 lakh spent on his daughter’s medical education. A Hyundai Creta and three two-wheelers registered to Hansdah and his family were also confiscated. “The MVI could not account for these assets satisfactorily,” a Vigilance official stated, noting ongoing valuations by the Technical Wing.

Hansdah’s career began at the District Industries Centre in Sambalpur and Deogarh, with promotions to Junior MVI in 2003 and MVI in 2020, when he was posted to Boudh’s RTO. The case, registered as Balasore Vigilance PS Case No. 7/2025, has sparked outrage on X, with users under hashtags like #OdishaCorruption and #VigilanceRaid demanding stricter oversight of public officials. One post read, “44 plots on an MVI’s salary? Corruption runs deep!” Critics question how such wealth went undetected, pointing to systemic gaps in monitoring.

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This arrest follows recent vigilance actions, including the June 2025 apprehension of IAS officer Dhiman Chakma in Kalahandi for accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe. Odisha’s 2024–2025 anti-corruption campaign has exposed 17 officials with disproportionate assets, per Vigilance data, reflecting the state’s push to curb graft. The investigation into Hansdah’s finances continues, with potential links to RTO-related bribery under scrutiny, as MVIs often handle vehicle registrations and permits, ripe for illicit gains. The case underscores the need for transparent systems to prevent unchecked wealth accumulation by public servants.

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