Have a look at the biography, qualification and career journey of IAS Bishnupada Sethi
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi issued a summon to IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi on December 10, following a cash seizure near the Mayfair Hotel on December 7. Reports suggest that three individuals involved in the CBI raid had transferred money to the account of Sethi’s driver as part of a scheme to manipulate a tender. To gather further information, Sethi was summoned to appear before the CBI on December 11.
Who is Odisha IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi, biography, age, qualification, education, batch and current posting
📌 Tender Fixing Case: As per the latest information, CBI had summoned IAS (Principal Secretary) Bishnupada Sethi to join the Investigation on December 11. Sethi was reportedly quizzed. His drivers will be questioned now. Sethi may face arrest if his involvement in corruption and… pic.twitter.com/7u8BHlm0Bw
— TNI (@TNITweet) December 14, 2024
Currently serving as the Chief Secretary for various Odisha Government departments, Sethi has been assigned official vehicles, and all of his drivers were summoned for inquiry. Additionally, the CBI requested the telephone numbers of the involved drivers from the Odisha Government. In response to the incident, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan emphasized that strict action would be taken against those found guilty of corruption.
Who is Bishnupada Sethi?
Age 57 Sethi who was born on 21/03/1967 is a 1995-batch IAS officer and his book of poetry, “Beyond Here and Other Poems,” published in 2021, has been included in the M.A. English course at the University of Mumbai with the book having a total of 61 poems.
Sethi completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Rourkela and later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering from IIM Mumbai. After clearing the UPSC exam, he became an IAS officer and his initial posting was as an SDM, followed by several roles as a District Collector and District Magistrate in different districts.
Sethi further completed his executive courses from renowned institutions such as Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and Harvard Kennedy School and holds a Ph.D. from Desh Bhagat University. At present, he is serving as the Principal Secretary of the SC & ST, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department and the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department in Odisha.
Bishnupada Sethi, an Odisha cadre IAS officer, has had a distinguished career, currently serving as the Principal Secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities and Social Security in the Government of Odisha. Known for his calm demeanor and soft-spoken nature, Sethi has been involved in several significant projects, such as overseeing the relief efforts during Cyclones Titli and Fani and taking initiatives to improve systems in the KBK region.
Despite his professional accolades, Sethi has faced corruption allegations. In 2014, RTI activist Srikanta Pakal filed a complaint to the Odisha Lok Ayukta, accusing Sethi of misappropriating funds while serving as the Management-in-charge of the Odisha State Co-operative Bank Ltd. The allegations included unauthorized medical reimbursements and illegal withdrawal of funds.
However, the Lok Ayukta’s investigation cleared Sethi, confirming his entitlement to certain payments and stating that his actions were in accordance with relevant laws. Despite this, the CBI has recently re-examined the case, focusing on potential corruption linked to project allocations during Sethi’s tenure as Principal Secretary of the SC/ST Development Department. The CBI’s summons indicates that further investigation is underway, with the agency exploring a possible nexus involving kickbacks related to project contracts.
#WATCH | Seizure of Rs 10 lakh cash from Mercedes car: CBI had summoned IAS Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary to Government of Odisha, to appear before it at 10 am on 11 December 2024; Sethi is yet to comment anything over the matter #Odisha pic.twitter.com/xCCgZjynwB
— OTV (@otvnews) December 14, 2024