GUNS & GANGSTERS AT ROURKELA CIRCUIT HOUSE: REVENUE DEPT LAUNCHES HIGH-LEVEL PROBE, TWO TOP OFFICIALS AXED
ROURKELA: The Odisha Revenue Department has launched a high-level investigation following a major security breach at the Rourkela Circuit House, where police recently seized illegal firearms and exposed a criminal syndicate hiding out in government-reserved suites for nearly three weeks. In a swift administrative crackdown, the state government has removed Panposh Sub-Collector Chandrakanta Majhi and Nazar Chittaranjan Das from their positions for lapses in booking oversight. Sundargarh District Collector Dr. Shubhankar Mohapatra has been handed immediate interim charge of the facility’s operations.
“Absolutely Unacceptable”: Revenue Minister Warns of Stern Action
Announcing the decisions during a press briefing in Sundargarh, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari condemned the incident and stated that the government would tolerate no compromises on security. The newly constructed Circuit House has been temporarily closed to the public, and the state plans to float tenders to outsource its management to private entities.
“We have ordered a comprehensive inquiry to identify the exact official who authorized this stay,” Minister Pujari said. “Strict action will be taken against any staff members who provided direct or indirect assistance. A formal report has been sought to explain how criminals managed to occupy these government rooms for such a prolonged period despite established eligibility rules.”
The scandal unfolded on the night of August 14, when police executed a targeted raid on the Circuit House, recovering two guns and ammunition from the rooms. According to investigators, Prakash Paswan—a Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) representative associated with Union Minister Jual Oram—had initially booked the accommodation for a standard three-day stay. However, Paswan and his gang illegally extended their occupation, holding two luxury suites for roughly 22 days. The police have arrested Paswan and 11 of his associates in connection with the arms seizure and illegal stay, while a manhunt is underway to capture two additional suspects who remain at large.
This incident is not the first time the Rourkela Circuit House has faced scrutiny; the unauthorized stay of a web series actress last December had previously sparked intense public controversy over the flouting of official protocols. To permanently eliminate administrative manipulation, Minister Pujari revealed that the state is fast-tracking a shift to a centralized online booking system for all government inspection bungalows and circuit houses across Odisha, mirroring the transparent digital models currently used by Odisha Bhawan and Odisha Niwas.
