Odisha Forest Official Raided, Over โน1.4 Crore Cash Uncovered in Disproportionate Assets Probe
BHUBANESWAR, Odisha – In a important crackdown on corruption, the Odisha Vigilance Department on Friday, July 25, executed raids across six locations linked to Deputy Ranger Rama Chandra Nepak, uncovering assets far exceeding his known income. The operation, which targeted Nepak’s properties in Jaipur and Bhubaneswar, yielded a staggering โน1.44 crore in cash, alongside valuable gold items.
the early morning raids, conducted by multiple teams of senior officials, focused on Nepak, who was stationed at the jaipur forest range.During the search of his Jaipur flat,authorities were compelled to bring a currency-counting machine to manage the sheer volume of cash discovered. in addition to the significant cash haul, investigators also found four gold biscuits and 16 gold coins, each weighing 10 grams, further highlighting the extent of the alleged illicit wealth.
Searches extended to a flat owned by Nepak in the same building, his office, a house situated on his ancestral land in Jaipur, his in-laws’ residence, and his brother’s apartment in Bhubaneswar. The probe remains active, with officials continuing their investigation into the recovered assets.
This action follows a similar raid last week on Nityananda Nayak, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Keonjhar, Odisha. Nayak is under scrutiny for allegedly amassing 115 land plots, 200 grams of gold, a small collection of firearms, and othre assets valued in crores. The raids on Nayak’s properties, spanning seven locations including a 9,000 sq ft four-storey house in Angul, his ancestral home, his in-laws’ residence, his official quarters and office in Keonjhar, and his son’s properties, revealed cash worth โน1.55 lakh, two four-wheelers, four two-wheelers, and a collection of teak artefacts. Nayak is reportedly believed to own the most properties among government officials in the state.