The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday detected 17 kg gold worth over Rs 9.5 crore besides Rs 1.57 crore and Rs 4.64 crore bank and postal savings from the possession of retired Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer Pramod Kumar Jena.
The wealth and opulence of the IRTS officer was uncovered as CBI sleuths were carrying out a probe of an ongoing disproportionate asset case against the retired principal chief operation manager of East Coast Railway.
The wealth of the retired railway officer literally left the CBI officials, engaged in the search operation, stunned. The ill-gotten property acquired by IRTS officer Jena is assessed at more than Rs 15 crore so far. It is likely to go up further as the search operation is still continuing.
The Central agency has conducted searches and locker operations in an on-going investigation of a case against then Principal Chief Operation Manager (IRTS), East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar for possession of alleged Disproportionate Assets.
“A cash amount of Rs. 1.57 crore (approx.); Postal saving instruments/Bank FDs of Rs. 3.33 crore (approx.); Bank balance of Rs. 1.51 crore (approx.); Mutual Fund of Rs. 47.75 lakh (approx.); gold bars, gold biscuits/coins & gold jewellery of Rs. 17 kg (value of approximately Rs. 9.5 crore) and documents related to immovable properties were found from the Bank locker/premises of accused and others including family members/relatives etc.”, CBI informed in a statement on Tuesday.
The agency had registered a case on 3 January against then Principal Chief Operation Manager (IRTS officer), East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar on the allegations of possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs. 1.92 crore (approx.) during the check period 1 April, 2005 to 31 March 2020 in his name and his family members.
Searches were conducted at various places including Bhubaneswar, Jagatsinghpur (both in Odisha) and Kolkata. During searches, 3 locker keys of lockers in the name of the wife of the accused and other 5 locker keys of lockers whose names of owners were not readily available. Therefore, after strenuous efforts, the name of the owners of the lockers as well as the locker numbers and bank branches were found out.