Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance today launched simultaneous raids at seven locations linked to Sri Nityananda Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Kendu Leaf Division, Keonjhar, on allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The coordinated raids, spanning across Angul, Keonjhar, and Nayagarh districts, are being conducted based on search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar.
The vigilance teams, comprising three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), ten Inspectors, and other supporting staff, began their operations early this morning. The searches are ongoing at various premises connected to DFO Shri Nayak, including a four-storey building at Turanga, Angul, his paternal house at Madanmohan Patna village (Angul), his in-laws’ residence at Jagannathpur (Angul), his official chamber at Kendu Leaf Division in Keonjhar, his government residential quarters in Keonjhar, and his son’s residence and office chamber in Komanda, Nayagarh district.
Preliminary reports from the Vigilance suggest the discovery of significant assets, notably 115 plots primarily located in Chhendipada, Angul. These plots are registered in the names of Shri Nayak, his spouse, and his two sons, with four plots also in the name of his daughter. The purchase of these plots reportedly spans from 1992, when Shri Nayak entered government service as a Forest Ranger, until 2024, during his tenure in various capacities.
Additionally, a cash amount of Rs 1.19 lakh, two four-wheelers (Maruti Suzuki Dzire & Skoda Volkswagen Virtus), and four two-wheelers have reportedly been seized. The valuation and assessment of the detected properties are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing, while bank deposits, other deposits, and investments are also being scrutinized.
A Career Under Scrutiny:
Sri Nityananda Nayak commenced his government service as a Forest Ranger on April 6, 1992. After completing his training at F.R.C. Angul, he was posted as an Attached Range Officer under the Forest Division Sundargarh (Hemgir Range). He served as a Forest Ranger in various Forest Divisions across Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, and Nuapada districts from October 15, 1992, to May 27, 2015.
He was promoted to the Odisha Forest Service (OFS) in the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) on May 27, 2015, and joined at Khariar Division on July 27, 2015. Subsequently, he served as ACF of Rayagada Forest Division from September 6, 2017, to August 30, 2022.
His promotion to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) came on September 7, 2022, and he joined as DCF in the office of PCCF (Wildlife), Bhubaneswar, on August 31, 2022. He was further promoted to the rank of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Kendu Leaf Division, Keonjhar, on January 24, 2024, and has been serving in this position till date.
The vigilance department’s role in government services in India is to investigate and prevent corruption and malpractices among public servants, ensuring integrity and accountability. The current raids are part of a larger effort to curb disproportionate assets accumulated by government officials. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.