Another Odisha forester apprehended by Vigilance while accepting Rs 10,000 bribe

In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Odisha Vigilance Department caught a forest officer red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000. The officer, Ashok Kumar Nayak, serves as the Range Forest Officer at the Muribahal Range in Bolangir district.

According to sources, a local resident, Kaushik Kumar Bhoi, had approached Nayak seeking permission to cut Rengal trees in the area. However, Nayak allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 to facilitate the clearance. 

Finding no other option, Bhoi approached Vigilance and lodged a complaint with the Bolangir Vigilance authorities. Acting promptly, the officials of the anti-corruption agency laid a trap, and Nayak was apprehended while receiving the bribe.

The Vigilance Department confirmed that Nayak has been taken into custody for further questioning, and a detailed investigation has been initiated to examine if there were other instances of corruption. 

Earlier on December 27, Odisha Vigilance arrested Niranjan Satapathy, Forester of the Semiliguda Forest Range under the Koraput Forest Division, in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case following extensive searches at properties linked to him across multiple districts.

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During house raids, several multi-storey building, seven high-value plots, gold ornaments weighing over 1 KG and Bank and other deposits amounting to Rs 66.42 lakh was unearthed from Satapathy’s possession.