Suspended DFO sent to jail for 14 days

Cuttack: Suspended Athagarh Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sudhansu Bhusan Mishra was sent to 14 days' judicial custody after being produced before the Special Vigilance Court here today.

As neither the Vigilance prayed for a fresh remand of the suspended DFO nor Mishra appealed for a bail, the Vigilance court sent the arrested forest officer to jail.

The Vigilance today produced him in the court at the end of Mishra’s three-day remand.

Mishra, who was arrested by the Vigilance sleuths for amassing disproportionate assets on February 25, was suspended from service yesterday.

He reportedly owned immovable and movable properties worth more than Rs 6 crore though his monthly salary was only Rs 60, 000.

During raids at Mishra’s residences, the Vigilance recovered Rs 1.1 crore cash, which he was unable to explain away when asked by the sleuths.

He started his career as an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), worked as DFO of Angul and Berhampur before being posted as Athagarh DFO.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Vigilance Director RP Sharma said Mishra was not cooperating with the investigation. Therefore, the investigating agency might pray in the court to take Mishra on fresh remand.

Notably, Mishra’s bail plea was rejected when he was produced in the court for first time after his arrest.