Bhubaneswar, 09 July (H.S.) : The Odisha Vigilance has arrested Rabindra Kumar Nayak, Forest Ranger of the Kendrapada Forest Range, in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case. He will be produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Cuttack, on Thursday. A case has been registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, vide Cuttack Vigilance Police Station Case No. 25/2026.
The arrest comes a day after the Vigilance Department conducted simultaneous searches at four locations linked to Nayak as part of an investigation into allegations that he had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The searches were carried out on the strength of warrants issued by the Special Vigilance Judge, Cuttack.
According to Vigilance officials, the searches led to the detection of assets far exceeding Nayak's known income. During the investigation, he allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of these assets, following which he was placed under arrest.
The assets unearthed during the raids include two residential buildings, one of which is a palatial four-storeyed house measuring approximately 7,038 square feet. The Vigilance team also detected six high-value plots, 283 grams of gold, cash worth ₹2.14 lakh, bank deposits amounting to ₹76 lakh, a four-wheeler, and other movable and immovable properties. Officials said the accused was unable to produce valid documents or provide a convincing explanation for the acquisition of these assets.
The simultaneous searches were conducted at Nayak's four-storeyed residence at Munduli-Godisahi under Barang police limits in Cuttack district, his ancestral house at Sahadapada under Banki police limits, his office chamber at the Kendrapada Forest Range Office, and his temporary residence in Kendrapada.
The operation was supervised by a team comprising five Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), nine Inspectors, five Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), and other Vigilance personnel.
Odisha Vigilance has stated that further investigation is underway to asc
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
