Latest news with #OdishaVigilance
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Odisha forest official's ‘secret chamber with Rs 1.43 crore cash' unearthed; Rs 1.5 kg gold, other high-value assets seized
Cash worth Rs 1.43 crore concealed in a secret chamber, bank deposits of Rs 1.32 crore, gold weighing 1.5 kg and 4.637 kg of silver, multiple residential properties, and high-value land parcels — these were among the assets unearthed by Odisha Vigilance after raiding a junior-rank forest official. Vigilance sleuths on Friday conducted simultaneous raids at six properties linked to Rama Chandra Nepak, a deputy ranger at Jeypore forest range in Koraput district, Vigilance said in a statement. The raids were conducted in Jeypore and in Bhubaneswar by multiple teams after allegations that the official possessed disproportionate assets. He is scheduled to retire from service after five months. Vigilance officials said they unearthed Rs 1.4 crore concealed in a secret treasury at one of his flats in Jeypore town. They used counting machines to count the large amount of cash recovered during the raids. They also found gold biscuits and gold coins during the raids. Among his immovable properties, the anti-corruption wing unearthed a three-storey building measuring approximately 3,600 square feet in Jeypore, a 3bhk flat with an area of 1,800 sq ft in Bhubaneswar, and two 1,500 sq-ft flats and two high-value plots in Jeypore town. Vigilance's technical wing is conducting detailed measurements and valuations of the identified properties, said officials. With the raids continuing, Vigilance sources said they may recover more properties linked to the forest official. He is likely to be arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to records, Nepak joined government service as a village forest worker in March 1989 at the Koraput social forestry division. Currently, he holds a deputy ranger rank and is the in-charge ranger of Jeypore forest range, receiving a gross salary of Rs 76,880 per month.
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Hans India
BMC engineer in vigilance net
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Executive Engineer Jagannath Pattnaik for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Vigilance sources said searches conducted on Pattnaik's properties revealed disproportionate assets, including three multi-storeyed buildings (one in Bhubaneswar and two in Gunupur), one farmhouse, three high value plots in Bhubaneswar, 460 grams of gold and bank deposits exceeding Rs 80 lakh. Additionally, a pair of antlers and a country-made gun were recovered during the raid. Pattnaik failed to provide satisfactory explanations for their possession. Apart from the Vigilance case, another case was registered against Pattnaik under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, sections 9, 49 and 51 in Balipatna forest range under Khurda wildlife division for illegal possession of antlers.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
DFO Nayak in vigilance net
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday arrested a forest officer for allegedly possessing assets, including 115 plots, disproportionate to his known source of income, officials said. During raids conducted at seven places, linked to the forest officer, in the past two days, sleuths of the anti-corruption wing of the State government detected 115 land parcels in his name and also in the possession of his family members. 'Arrested Nityananda Nayak is the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kendu Leaf Division, Keonjhar. He will be forwarded to the court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar,' the Vigilance said. On the allegation of possession of assets, disproportionate to his known source of income, simultaneous raids were conducted at the office and properties of the DFO on Sunday and Monday, the officials 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. '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 names of his two sons and four in the name of his daughter,' an anti-corruption department officer said. Besides, one multi-storeyed building and a farmhouse in Angul district were also detected by the department, he said. The Vigilance officials also detected 200 grams of gold, Rs 10.25 lakh in cash, deposits over Rs 50.38 lakh and two four-wheelers during the raids. 'This is the highest number of plots, in the possession of a government employee, detected by the Odisha Vigilance till now,' a Vigilance officer said. The second highest of 105 plots, detected earlier, was in the possession of a Chief Construction Engineer, Anandapur Barrage Project, Salapada, Keonjhar, the officer added.
NDTV
4 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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.
