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NDTV
21-07-2025
- NDTV
115 Land Plots, Assets Worth Crores: What Odisha Vigilance Found In Raid On Officer
An official in Odisha was found to have 115 land plots in his name, gold weighing 200 grams, a small armoury containing rifles, and other assets worth crores during a raid by the Vigilance Department on Sunday. Nityananda Nayak, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Kendu Leaf Division in Keonjhar, had the highest number of properties owned by any government officer, found the anti-corruption wing of Odisha government. The searches were carried out at seven places in Angul, Keonjhar and Nayagarh districts of the state, where Nayak owned houses. Simultaneous raids were conducted at Nayak's lavish residence in Angul's Jagannath Vihar, ancestral property in Similipada, and his in-laws' house in Jagannathpur in Angul district. Apart from 115 land plots, the Vigilance Department also found cash worth Rs 1.55 lakh, one four-storeyed building in Angul, a small armoury containing rifles and other weapons, two four-wheelers and four two-wheelers, gold weighing 200 grams, and a collection of teak artefacts. "Seven teams of Odisha Vigilance comprising 3 DSPs, 10 Inspectors, and other supporting staff searched for the strength of search warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar," a vigilance official said. Officials suspect that the teak and timber artefacts along with wood-cutting equipment were likely sourced illegally during Nayak's forest operations. Nayak joined government service as a Range Officer in 1992 and rose through the ranks to become DFO of the Kendu Leaf Division. As per the data shared by the Vigilance department, Nayak topped the list of land acquisition with 115 plots, while Pravas Kumar Pradhan, Chief Construction Engineer of Anandpur Barrage Project in Keonjhar, was placed second with 105 plots. The Vigilance official arrested Pravas Kumar Pradhan on August 3 last for possessing assets more than his income. The raid is part of a larger investigation into Nayak's alleged accumulation of wealth beyond known sources of income.
Hans India
21-07-2025
- Hans India
Vigilance seizez 115 plots from DFO
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance unearthed immovable assets, including 115 plots and a four-storeyed building, from the possession of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nityananda Nayak and his family members, officials said. On the allegation of possession of assets, disproportionate to his known source of income, simultaneous raids were launched at the office and properties of the DFO, Kendu Leaf Division, Keonjhar on Sunday, the anti-corruption department said. The raids were conducted at seven places in Angul, Keonjhar and Nayagarh districts by three deputy superintendents of police, 10 inspectors and other supporting staff on the strength of search warrants issued by Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar. During the search operations, the Vigilance sleuths have found 115 plots in the possession of the DFO, an Odisha Forest Service (OFS) officer, and his family members, the statement said. 'Out of the 115 plots, 53 are registered in the name of the forest officer, 42 recorded in the name of his spouse, 16 others in the name of his two sons and four in the name of his daughter,' the anti-corruption department said. Similarly, one four-storeyed building in Angul district was also detected by the department. The measurement and valuation assessment of the building and plots are being carried out by the Vigilance technical wing. The forest officer has purchased all the plots in Chhendipada, Angul from 1992, the year when he joined the government service, to 2024. He served in different capacities such as Forest Range Officer, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Deputy Conservator of Forest and DFO. Besides, Rs 1.19 lakh cash, three four-wheelers and four two-wheelers were also found in the possession of the DFO. Searches are underway, an officer said. 'This is the highest number of plots, in the possession of a government employee, detected by the Odisha Vigilance till now,' the officer said. The second highest number of plots (105) detected earlier was in the possession of a Chief Construction Engineer, Anandapur Barrage Project, Salapada, Keonjhar.
