Odisha Vigilance Files 5000-Page Chargesheet Against Dismissed IFoS Officer Abhay Pathak & Son

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday filed a 5000-page chargesheet in the disproportionate case against dismissed Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer, Abhay Kant Pathak, and his son Akash before Special Judge (Vigilance) in Bhubaneswar. 

The case was registered against the officer on November 27, 2020, for allegedly misusing his official position and amassing ill-gotten wealth during his tenure as a public servant. The investigation and house searches at 16 places (7 places in Odisha, 2 places in Bihar, 6 places in Mumbai/Pune, Maharastra and 1 place in Rajasthan) revealed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 14,25,46,901, a Vigilance release said.

More than Rs 10 crore of cash deposits and account transfers of around Rs 5 crore in different bank accounts of the father-son duo also were found. “Both accused persons failed to provide a satisfactory explanation in this regard. Accordingly, a 5000 page Charge Sheet has been filed in the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar documenting detailed evidence against the accused Abhay Kant Pathak for possession of Disproportionate Assets, and his son Akash Kumar Pathak for abetting the offence, for standing their trial in the Court of law.” it added.

On August 18, Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet under the anti-money laundering law against the 1987-batch IFoS officer, who was compulsorily retired in May 2021 by the Centre on Odisha government’s recommendation following the Vigilance case, and his son. The ED has also attached assets worth more than Rs 1 crore and seized a BMW car owned by Pathak.

Pathak was last posted as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (plan, programme and afforestation) in the Odisha government. Akash was also booked for allegedly duping people in lieu of providing jobs.

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