Odisha Govt Suspends DFO Bijay Kumar Parida After Arrest In DA Case

Bhubaneswar: Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department of Odisha government has suspended DFO, Rayagada Peripheral, Bijaya Kumar Parida, who was arrested on August 25 for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets to the tune of 206% of his known sources of income.

According to sources, the action was taken since the DFO spent more than 48 hours in Jharpada jail here after being sent to 14-day judicial custody by a Special Vigilance court.

During simultaneous searches at seven places on August 24, the Vigilance officials found disproportionate assets worth over Rs 4 crore, including a G+3-storey building of 9,500 sqft worth Rs 1.8 crore in Cuttack, a triple-storey building and a flat in Bhubaneswar, 17 plots in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other towns, Rs 1.24 lakh in cash and gold jewellery weighing 650 gm, in the name of Parida and his family members.

The raids were conducted on properties linked to the DFO in Rayagada, Khurda, Cuttack and Jajpur districts. “After thorough search, inventory and further enquiry, the income, expenditure and assets of Parida were calculated and he was found in possession of disproportionate assets, which were 206% in excess of his known sources of income. Investigation of the case is in progress,” a Vigilance release had said.