Ranger having Rs 1 crore deposit, flats in Bhubaneswar & Hyderabad arrested; wildlife case lodged for keeping peafowl

Vigilance officials on Friday arrested Bibhudananda Mishra, Forest Range Officer (Dhenkanal range) in connection with a disproportionate assets case registered against him.

The case was registered after the Forest Ranger was found in possession of disproportionate assets including a high value flat in Bhubaneswar, two flats in Hyderabad, eight plots in Bhubaneswar and Dhenkanal.

The Vigilance also detected one farm house with civil construction approximately Rs 2 crore, deposits over Rs 1 crore, cash Rs 5.15 lakh, gold 557 gms and two four wheelers among others.

Moreover, a wildlife case has also been instituted against the official for keeping Indian Peafowl which is a violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

“Officers of Forest Wing of Odisha Vigilance along with local Forest staff of Dhenkanal Range have been to his Farm house at Rahangol, Athagarh, Cuttack and registered case against Mishra for violating Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 U/s 9 & 39 of the said Act punishable under section 51 of WLP Act for keeping Indian Peafowl( Pavo Cristatus). In this connection, 4 Peafowls seized and handed over to local Forest staff for custody,” the Vigilance said in a release.

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