Vigilance Raids On Forest Ranger’s Office, Houses In Odisha

Cuttack: Vigilance sleuths conducted raids on the office and houses of a Range Officer of Angul district after finding Rs 2.79 lakh unaccountable cash in his possession on Tuesday.

The Vigilance officials had kept a close watch on the movement of Manamohan Swain, Forest Range Officer, Chhendipada Forest Range in Angul district after getting information that he was taking illegal gratification from different sources.

Acting on a tip-off, the officials followed Swain and intercepted him at Mundali bridge while he was going to Bhubaneswar in a private vehicle on the day. They found Rs. 2,79,300 from his possession whose sources he could not account for.

Later, the sleuths raided his office and quarters at Chhendipada, house at Khandiabandha in Jajpur and rented house at Bolangir town simultaneously. During search, Rs 50,000 more was found from his official quarters.

The search operation was going on till the report was filed.