In a significant crackdown on corruption within the state’s forest department, Odisha Vigilance has placed Rajendra Kumar Samantray, a Forest Range Officer stationed at Rahama Forest Range in Jagatsinghpur district, under arrest for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Samantray, who will be produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, in Cuttack later today, faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. The arrest follows extensive searches conducted at multiple locations linked to the officer, which uncovered a cache of unexplained wealth, including a palatial multi-storeyed building, a double-storeyed building, five valuable plots of land, Rs 3.69 lakhs in cash, 250 grams of gold, and bank deposits totaling Rs 80.68 lakhs.
The case, registered as Cuttack Vigilance Police Station Case No. 37/2025, stems from allegations that Samantray had amassed these assets far beyond his legitimate earnings during his tenure. Vigilance officials stated that the officer failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the sources of this wealth, prompting his immediate detention.
The operation marks the culmination of raids initiated just a day earlier on December 20, when Odisha Vigilance teams descended on four locations in Jagatsinghpur district associated with Samantray. These searches, part of a broader anti-corruption drive, revealed documents and physical assets that raised red flags about financial irregularities.
Samantray, who joined government service as a Forester in 1985 with a modest monthly salary of Rs 1,500, rose through the ranks to become a Forest Ranger by August 2023. His career progression within the forest department now stands overshadowed by these serious allegations, highlighting ongoing concerns about graft in public service roles.
The investigation remains ongoing, with Vigilance sleuths poring over financial records, property deeds, and potential leads on other accomplices. Further disclosures are expected as the probe deepens, potentially uncovering additional layers to the asset accumulation.
This arrest adds to a string of high-profile Vigilance actions in Odisha this year, underscoring the state’s renewed push against disproportionate assets cases among government employees. As Samantray faces judicial scrutiny, questions linger about systemic safeguards in the forest department to prevent such discrepancies.
