As many as 115 plots owned by a divisional forest officer in the Keonjhar district.
The anti-corruption vigilance wing of the Odisha Police on Sunday detected the highest accumulation of housing properties by a government functionary by uncovering as many as 115 plots owned by a divisional forest officer in the Keonjhar district.
This is the highest detection from unscrupulous officers in immovable property in the form of land and residential plots. The government servants, who are indulging in corrupt practices, have seemingly developed a penchant for investing their wealth acquired by unfair means in real estate, said a senior official of Odisha Vigilance Directorate.
Advertisement
On the allegation of possession of disproportionate assets (DA) by Nityananda Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer, Kendu Leaf Division, Keonjhar, simultaneous searches were conducted by Odisha Vigilance on the strength of search warrants issued by Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar.
Advertisement
The search operation that is still on has so far unearthed as many as 115 plots owned by Nayak, his spouse, sons and daughter, said Vigilance officials.
The senior forest officer purchased all these plots in Chhendipada, Angul for the period from 1992 (since his entering into Govt. service as Forest Range Officer) to 2024, while serving in different capacities such as Forest Range Officer, Assistant Conservator Forest, Deputy Conservator of Forest and Divisional Forest Officer.
The measurement and valuation/assessment of the above plots are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing, they said.
Investment of ill-gotten wealth in purchasing land, housing plots is the latest ploy adopted by corrupt officers as Vigilance have booked several officers for huge investment in real estate.
While Pravas Kumar Pradhan, Chief Construction Engineer, Anandapur Barrage Project, Salapada, Keonjhar was found in possession of 105 plots, Rama Chandra Mishra, Joint Commissioner of Excise Bhubaneswar was nabbed with ownership of 52 plots in anti-corruption raids in the last one year.
Similarly, Pradeep Kumar Rath, Additional Chief Engineer, Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC), Roads & Building Cuttack Circle owned50 plots and was booked under relevant sections of prevention of corruption act, said the vigilance officials.
Advertisement
