Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Sunday unearthed a multi-storey building and 115 high-value plots during raids on Keonjhar Kendu Leaf Division DFO Nityananda Nayak on allegation of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Another Rs 1.19 lakh in cash and two four-wheelers were also seized.
According to a Vigilance release, Nayak is suspected to have purchased a huge number of plots with his ill-gotten money. The simultaneous searches were conducted in Angul, Keonjhar and Nayagarh districts by teams led by 3 DSPs, 10 inspectors, and other supporting staff on the strength of search warrants issued by Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar.
Assets detected in the name of Nayak and his family members are as follows:
1. A four-storey building over 9000 sqft area at Turanga, Angul.
2. 115 plots (53 in the name of Nayak, 42 in the name of his spouse, 16 in the name of his two sons and four in the name of his daughter) at Chhendipada, Angul, purchased between 1992, since entering government service as range officer, and 2024, while serving in different capacities such as Forest Range Officer, Assistant Conservator Forest, Deputy Conservator of Forest and Divisional Forest Officer.
3. Rs 1.19 lakh in cash.
4. Two four-wheelers (Maruti Suzuki Dzire & Skoda Volkswagen Virtus) & 4 two-wheelers.
The measurement and valuation/assessment of the building/plots are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing. Bank deposits, other deposits and investments are being ascertained, it said.
The release further stated that he has a penchant for teakwood. Several wooden artefacts were found at his residence. He also owns a mini armoury, comprining a gun, bow and arrows and swords.
Service Timeline
Nayak joined government service as a Forest Ranger on 06.04.1992 after training at FRC Angul.
1992–2015: Forest Ranger across Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, and Nuapada districts.
2015: Promoted to OFS as Asst. Conservator of Forests (ACF); posted in Khariar Division.
2017–2022: ACF, Rayagada Forest Division.
2022: Promoted as Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF); posted at PCCF (Wildlife), Bhubaneswar.
2024: Promoted as DFO, Kendu Leaf Division, Keonjhar; continuing in the post.