Odisha vigilance on Tuesday arrested former chief engineer, roads and building (civil), Tara Prasad Mishra, for possessing huge properties disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Vigilance sleuths stumbled upon huge properties and found 2.555kg of gold and 370 grams of diamonds when they raided Mishra’s house on Monday. The retired officer was passionate about high-end watches, including Rolex, and was undertaking foreign tours. The vigilance has also found seven costly plots.

The sleuths also discovered that the officer had spent ₹ 80 lakh on the education of his daughter who studied medicine. The vigilance in a release said it unearthed 10 high-value flats in Bhubaneswar at places like Cosmopolis, Falcon Crest, Grand Awas, Assotech in Bhubaneswar, and Ashiana apartment at Jharsuguda and seven plots and bank deposits of over ₹2.7 crore during the searches conducted on the premises related to the officer so far.

The vigilance has also found foreign currencies of the USA, Thailand, Vietnam, UAE, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia and Singapore. He led a lavish lifestyle and visited countries like the UAE, Vietnam, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, and Thailand.

It has unearthed two luxury cars (Mercedes Benz and KIA Seltos). It has found bank deposits of over ₹2.7 crore.

Besides seizing ₹6 lakh cash, it has unearthed huge deposits and investments in shares and mutual funds. “The measurement and valuation/assessment of the above flats and plots are being carried out by the vigilance technical wing,” said a press release issued by the vigilance.

Mishra started his career as an assistant engineer in 1984. He was posted at Dhenkanal (R&B) subdivision from 1986- 92, Bhubaneswar municipality from 1992-95, Charbatia division from 1996-99, Gunupur division from 1999-2000, then transferred to the rural development department, Cuttack.