Odisha orders special audit into purchase, customisation of vehicles for over ₹12 crore

Odisha's forest minister ordered a special audit into the ₹12.02 crore purchase and modification of 51 Mahindra Thars amid allegations of irregularities.

Published on: Dec 23, 2025, 07:06:19 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty, Bhubaneswar

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Odisha forest and environment minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia has ordered a special audit into alleged irregularities in the controversial purchase and customisation of 51 Mahindra Thar worth ₹12.02 crore.

Khuntia directed the additional chief secretary of the forest, environment and climate change department to fast-track the special audit by the accountant general (A&E), Odisha, leaving no scope for delay in probing what has become a political flashpoint in the state.

The vehicles were bought for ₹7 crore, with each vehicle priced at ₹14 lakh. However, an additional ₹5.02 crore was later spent on renovating and modifying the vehicles, the minister had informed.

A senior official familiar with the matter said the audit team would “leave no stone unturned” in determining whether due procedure was followed when sanctioning the substantial customisation costs, whether the finance department’s clearance was obtained, and whether the 21 add-ons fitted in each vehicle were genuinely necessary or an extravagant use of public funds.

“We will scrutinise whether any external agencies played a role in inflating costs. If anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing, action will be taken strictly as per rules,” the official cautioned, suggesting that disciplinary action could follow if irregularities are confirmed.

The modifications — intended to enhance patrolling efficiency, surveillance, emergency response, and firefighting capability in challenging forest terrain — have come under scrutiny after the issue was raised in the assembly in March when opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Arun Kumar Sahoo wanted to know about the procurement of the vehicles and additional spending for upgrading them. Facing mounting pressure from media reports and pointed questions in the assembly, Khuntia had earlier clarified that the modifications were approved based on ground-level requisitions from divisional forest officers to meet operational needs in inaccessible areas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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