A day after seizing over ₹2 crore in cash from an officer of the Watershed Department, the Odisha Vigilance Department has launched a separate inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds by the officer and his associates.

The accused, Santanu Mohapatra, who served as the Deputy Director and Project Director of the department in Malkangiri, was raided on Wednesday over allegations of possessing disproportionate assets. Officials recovered ₹2.06 crore in cash, 422 grams of gold jewellery, and financial deposits worth ₹91 lakh during the search operation.

Additionally, the Vigilance team uncovered four high-value plots in Bhubaneswar and Jeypore town, a four-wheeler, two two-wheelers, and household articles worth ₹29 lakh. A bank locker search further led to the seizure of ₹2 lakh in cash, sale deeds, and other land documents, a Vigilance official confirmed.

With the fresh inquiry into possible fund embezzlement, authorities are now focusing on tracking the source of the unaccounted wealth and identifying any accomplices involved in the financial irregularities. The investigation is ongoing, and further action is expected based on the findings.