From Hiring Aircraft To Farming In Pune, Raid Reveals Odisha Forest Officer’s Lavish Lifestyle

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance raid, considered to be one the biggest cross-country operation, on senior IFS officer Dr Abhay Kant Pathak for allegedly accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, continued for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

According to sources, the searches were carried out following reports that Pathak, who is currently serving as the Additional PCCF, Plan, Programme and Afforestation in Odisha, had used chartered planes for over 20 trips during the lockdown. The last travel was on November 13, a passenger manifest showed.

His son Akash Kumar Pathak, whose residence in Pune is also being searched, had also travelled in the chartered planes. They had spent over Rs 4.5 crore on the flights alone.

Over 10 such tickets, Rs 70 lakh and gold in huge quantity have been recovered from his residence and office during the over 30 hours raid. He also owns Mercedes Benz and Tata Harrier, among other high-end vehicles.

Besides, the officials have also seized bills of hotel bookings, lavish banquet halls and other luxuries worth over Rs 2 crore.

His disproportionate asset is over 200 per cent of his known sources of income, sources added.

Several incriminating documents were also seized during the operation by 150 officials of the anti-graft wing at 14 places across four states on Wednesday, Vigilance DCP informed.

ALLEGATION

Accumulated assets by illegal means and enriching himself illicitly. The Centre had reportedly told the state to keep an eye on the IFS officer, who leads a very lavish lifestyle.

WEDNESDAY RAID

Bhubaneswar: Pathak’s residence, office, his 3 BHK flat at Vivekananda Marg, house of relatives and a driver, among others, were searched.

Reports suggest that huge cash was seized from a house at Ghatikia.

His apartment at Khandagiri reportedly has Italian marble flooring, a bed made of ivory worth over Rs 60 lakh and other luxuries. Forest and wildlife products like horns have also been recovered.

The anti-corruption agency also recovered Rs 50 lakh from his nephew’s house.

Pune: Pathak’s farmhouse at 115, Hill Town area in Bhugaon and a flat at God’s Blessings Apartment in Koregaon Park at Rs 5 lakh a month were also searched.

They have rented the farmhouse at Rs 5 lakh a month, sources said.

Bihar: A few places in this state were also raided.

LAVISH PARTY

According to a report published in Sambad, Pathak’s son is set to marry a state MLA’s daughter on December 11 and a ‘palace’ hotel in Udaipur was booked for the wedding ceremony. A lavish pre-wedding ceremony was recently organised at a five-star hotel in Bhubaneswar. The hotel has been raided by vigilance too.

FRUAD & FORGERY

The Crime Branch has also been asked to probe his position with TATA Motors and involvement in recruitment to the company, which had earlier accused his son of fraud and forgery. Akash had allegedly cheated people by promising them jobs by falsely claiming to be an MD at TATA Motors.