Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Friday unearthed Rs 1.43 crore in cash, 1.5 kg gold, a multi-storey building at Jeypore, three flats and two high-value plots during raids on Deputy Ranger of Jeypore Forest Range, Rama Chandra Nepak, on allegation of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
A total of Rs 1.39 crore in cash along with four gold biscuits and 16 gold coins, each weighing 10 gram, were found concealed in a secret treasury in his Jeypore town flat. Counting machines were deployed by the anti-corruption agency to ascertain the total amount of cash seized.
Multiple assets, including real estate, vehicles, agricultural properties, and other valuables, are as follows:
>> A triple-storeyed building over 3,600 sqft at NKT Road, PR Petta, Jeypore Town, Dist-Koraput.
>> 3-BHK flat over 1800sSqft at UMS Bhagabati Mansion, Raghunathpur Jali, Bhubaneswar.
>> Two 2-BHK flats measuring 1500 sqft at Golden Height Residential Apartment, PR Petta, Jeypore Town.
>> Two high-value plots in Jeypore town.
>> Rs 1,38,90,000 was found concealed in a secret treasury in his jeypore flat. Total cash recovered comes to 1,43,34,000, which includes Rs.4,44,000 seized from his residential house at Jeypore town
>> 1.5 kg gold and 4.637 kg silver.
>> Rs 1,32,19,739 deposits in 10 accounts of four banks
>> One four-wheeler (KIA Carens)
The Vigilance Technical Wing is currently conducting detailed measurements and valuation of the identified properties and assets. Insurance, other financial investments, and deposits are also being ascertained.
Earlier in the day, the anti-corruption agency carried out simultaneous searches at six places, including his office chamber, a flat belonging to his brother in Bhubaneswar and in-law’s house in Jeypore, on the strength of search warrants issued by Special Judge, Vigilance, Jeypore.
Nepak joined as Village Forest Worker on March 9, 1989, at Social Forestry in Koraput Social Forestry Division. After the merger of Social Forestry with Territorial Forest Division, he was posted in Jeypore Forest (Territorial) Division. At present, he was serving as Deputy Ranger-cum In-Charge Ranger, Jeypore Forest Range.
Despite drawing a gross monthly salary of Rs 76,880, he was found with such enormous unaccounted stash in his flat, raising concern about disproportionate assets and systemic corruption within the department.
