Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: In the highest-ever cash seizure by Odisha’s Vigilance Department, the anti corruption sleuths on Wednesday unearthed over Rs 4 crore in cash from the Bhubaneswar flat of Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack Circle.

The accused, identified as Debabrata Mohanty, was apprehended on Tuesday night for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a licensed coal vendor for allowing smooth running of his coal depot and to grant permission to transport coal.

Following his arrest, Vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations linked to him, including his residential flat at Shree Vihar, Patia in Bhubaneswar, his parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak, and his office chamber in Cuttack to ascertain whether the accused Deputy Director has possessed any disproportionate assets (DA).

During the ongoing searches, cash exceeding Rs 4 crore was recovered from his flat in Bhubaneswar. The money was found concealed in trolley bags and almirahs.

Officials said the counting process is underway to determine the exact amount.

The recovery marks the largest cash seizure ever made by Odisha Vigilance.

Additionally, Rs 1.20 lakh in cash was recovered and seized from Mohanty’s office drawer and personal possession.

Apart from the cash, Vigilance officials have so far unearthed the following assets: A palatial double-storeyed building measuring approximately 2,400 sq ft at Pahala in Bhubaneswar. Gold ornaments weighing around 130 grams have also been recovered from Mohanty’s posession.

A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, against Mohanty at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station in this regard on Monday.

Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Monday, told the State Assembly that the Vigilance Department has registered a total 416 cases against government officers and employees in the state for taking bribes, committing financial irregularities in government fund and possession of disproportionate assets between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025.

Mumbai: The residents of Mumbai woke up to a warm sunny morning on Tuesday, 24th February. But the pleasant weather did not last long as smog covered the sky in most parts of the city, posing an issue to early morning commuters.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience mainly clear skies today, with temperatures likely to range between 19°C and 34°C, the same as the previous day, indicating the arrival of the summer months.

The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 235 on Tuesday, placing it into the ‘unhealthy’ category, as per data from AQI.in. In the last 24 hours, there have been major fluctuations in the AQI, with the lowest recorded AQI of 164 at 1.30 pm the previous day. The AQI has only increased ever since. The sudden spike in pollution levels is concerning, as such fluctuations can have adverse effects on vulnerable groups, including children, senior citizens, and those with respiratory ailments.

Several pockets in Mumbai continue to report severe air quality. Kannamwar Nagar Li recorded the highest AQI at 357, placing it in the ‘Severe’ category. Other areas with critically high readings included BS Ambedkar Nagar, Mithchowki, Sarvodaya Nagar, Savitribai Phule Nagar, which recorded AQI levels of 346, 345, 325 and 324, respectively, falling into the ‘severe’ category.

In contrast, a few localities reported relatively better air quality. Gamdevi Station 1 recorded an AQI of 67, falling in the ‘Moderate’ category. Hira Nagar, New Navy Nagar, Saraswati Colony and Walkeshwar reported AQI levels of 97 (Moderate), 98 (Moderate), 100 (Moderate) and 103 (Poor), respectively.

As per standard air quality classifications, AQI values between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘moderate’, 101 to 200 ‘poor’, 201 to 300 ‘unhealthy’ and levels above 300 are classified as ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’.

Varanasi, Feb 23: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Monday said he is ready to face arrest and will fully cooperate with any probe in connection with the POCSO case, even as he criticised the Uttar Pradesh government.

Addressing reporters during media interaction here, the seer said that if an investigation is underway, he has a greater interest than the authorities in ensuring that the matter of the alleged wrongdoing is resolved swiftly.

“If any investigation is being conducted, we will cooperate. The police and the state may have an interest in resolving a case, but we have even more interest in ensuring that this wrongdoing is addressed quickly,” he said.

On the possibility of custodial arrest, he argued that such a step would serve no purpose at this stage. According to him, custodial arrest is typically undertaken to preserve evidence, conduct medical examinations, or prevent the accused from absconding.

“All three matters have become irrelevant after so many days, so there is no point in making an arrest now. However, if anything of that sort happens, we will extend full cooperation,” he added.

The Shankaracharya also said he had limited information about the case details and claimed that media personnel appeared to know more than he did. He maintained that no special legal team had been urgently called, though some lawyers had arrived voluntarily to offer support.

Invoking a reference from the Ramcharitmanas, he said that deceit and hypocrisy ultimately come to an end, citing an episode involving Ravana as a moral lesson.

He further pointed to extensive surveillance arrangements at Prayagraj during his earlier stay, noting that CCTV cameras had been installed widely and monitored from a control room.

“You can ask the officials how much was spent on CCTVs and where the footage is stored,” he said, suggesting that visual records could clarify events if required.

The case remains under investigation, with no official statement yet from the state authorities on the seer’s case.