The Vigilance Forest Wing intensified its investigation against Shri Nityananda Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Kendu Leaf Division in Keonjhar, uncovering a trail of unaccounted wealth that has drawn statewide attention.
A day-long search at Shri Nayak’s Angul residence revealed a sizable collection of teak wood furniture and artefacts. Forest officials are currently engaged in measuring and assessing the recovered items for their estimated value.
Following these revelations, Shri Nayak was escorted to Keonjhar for expanded searches at his official residence and office. Vigilance teams have been deployed to banks and financial institutions to verify deposits and investments reportedly made in the name of Shri Nayak and his family members.
The Vigilance Technical Wing is evaluating the DFO’s immovable assets, which far exceed his declared holdings. While official property filings mention only 12 plots, investigators suspect undeclared acquisitions spanning several years. The officer is being interrogated to trace the funding sources and to explain the omission of such assets in annual government declarations.
Early findings point toward potential violations under anti-corruption laws and discrepancies in financial disclosures, which could have long-term legal implications for the officer.
The probe remains active across multiple locations, and further updates are expected as audit reports emerge.
