The Vigilance department on Saturday arrested a forest official for the possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The sleuths of Odisha’s anti-corruption wing arrested Deputy Ranger Rama Chandra Nepak after discovering Rs 1.43 crore in cash, a multi-storeyed building, three flats, two high-value plots, bank deposits of over Rs 1.33 crore, 1.5 kg of gold, 4.6 kg of silver, two cars, from his possession, an official statement said.
“RC Nepak, Deputy Ranger, Jeypore Forest Range, Koraput has been placed under arrest by Odisha Vigilance and will be forwarded today to the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Jeypore for possession of disproportionate assets (DA) beyond his known sources of income,” the department said in the statement, adding that a case has been registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Investigation into the disproportionate assets case would continue, it said.
Earlier on Friday, the Vigilance department launched simultaneous search operation at six locations linked to Nepak, the current deputy ranger and in-charge ranger of Jeypore Forest Range, based on the allegation of possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The Vigilance team, comprising 6 DSPs, 5 Inspectors, 9 ASIs, and other supporting staff, conducted raids on the strength of search warrants issued by special judge, vigilance, Jeypore, the department said in a statement.
Though the officer was drawing a gross monthly salary of Rs 76,880 (net Rs 69,680), cash found in his house locker was Rs 1.43 crore. Nepak began his career on March 9, 1989, as a village forest worker under the social forestry division in Koraput.
