The vigilance wing of Odisha Police searched Rout's residential government quarter inside the jail campus, his office inside the Sambalpur circle jail and paternal house at Kalyanpur village in Jajpur district during the day, official sources said.
As he failed to account for the Rs 18,86,900 seized from his office chamber on June 4 during a regular search operation in jails across the state by the local police, he was arrested, an official statement issued by the vigilance department said.
Additional director general (Prisons) Arun Kumar Ray had suspended Rout yesterday and recommended a joint probe by two DIG-level officers in connection with the seizure of cash, 9 mobiles, narcotics and other items from the jailor's chamber.