Cuttack: The Special Court (Vigilance) Wednesday acquitted former District Medical Officer, Cuttack and Joint Secretary of State Health Department, Dr Harihar Prasad Pati and his wife Satilata Pati in a case of amassment of assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
The charge-sheet against the couple was filed by the vigilance in 2012 for amassing assets to the tune of Rs 5, 74, 129 disproportionate to their known source of income.
The court, in its judgement stated that the vigilance officials failed to assess the exact amount of Pati’s property. In the absence of satisfactory evidence regarding the case, it acquitted Pati and his wife, the court added.
“It was alleged that Pati, during his tenure between 1963 to 1991, had accumulated assets that was disproportionate to his known sources of income. We put forwarded the point that while he was working, he had other incomes including agriculture, house rent etc,” said Pati’s lawyer Salaka Dash.
“Based on the argument, the court gave its verdict and dropped the confiscation procedure,” she added.