Bhubaneswar, 16 January (H.S.): The Additional Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, on Friday convicted Sri Suresh Chandra Rath, former Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Puri (retired), in a disproportionate assets (DA) case registered by Odisha Vigilance.

Sri Rath had been charge-sheeted under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. After completion of the trial, the Vigilance Court found him guilty and sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹1,00,000.

Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has stated that it will move the competent authority for stoppage of pension of the convicted former officer, in accordance with rules applicable after conviction in a corruption-related case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda