The Vigilance police on Tuesday initiated a probe to ascertain the role of several Government officials in extending undue favours to arrested gangster Sayed Usman Ali alias Tito.
The move came after the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch approached the Vigilance with a list of ‘suspected’ Government officials in Kendrapada and other parts of the State, informed sources.
The Vigilance inquiry will be initiated against the officials, who by abusing their official positions helped gangster Tito to acquire sand quarries, land, permits and petrol pumps illegally in the name of his family members and associates.
Vigilance officials visited the Crime Branch office in Bhubaneswar which is currently investigating a number of criminal cases against Tito and collected the relevant documents and records on the day.
In the course of inquiry, the Vigilance will look into the liability of Government officials of various departments on the above aspects under Prevention of Corruption Act and other offences.