Odisha Engineer Under Fire as Currency Bundles Thrown from Flat During Vigilance Raid

Pratiksha Ghosh 

Bhubaneswar, May 31, 2025:

On Friday ,Chaos erupted in a Bhubaneswar neighborhood when bundles of Rs 500 notes were seen flying out of an apartment window. The dramatic incident occurred during a corruption raid conducted by Odisha’s Vigilance Department at the residence of Chief Engineer Baikuntha Nath Sarangi.

Authorities have confirmed that approximately Rs 2.1 crore in cash has been seized so far from raids at seven different locations connected to Sarangi. As officers approached his flat, the engineer allegedly attempted to dispose of the illicit money by tossing it out in a desperate bid to avoid its recovery.

The unexpected "cash shower" startled onlookers and quickly drew the attention of the public, many of whom captured the bizarre event on their phones. 

Video clips of the falling currency and stunned residents have since surfaced on social media, sparking both outrage and disbelief.

An official from the Vigilance Department stated, “The suspect tried to tamper with evidence by throwing the cash out of his apartment. We are treating this matter seriously and further investigation is underway.”

The high-profile raid is part of a broader crackdown on disproportionate asset accumulation among government officials. Authorities are currently assessing Sarangi’s financial records, property holdings, and other assets to determine the full extent of the alleged corruption.

This dramatic episode has reignited public discourse on the need for accountability and transparency within the state’s administrative system.