Bhubaneswar, July 9: The Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested Rabindra Kumar Nayak, Forest Ranger of the Kendrapada Forest Range, on charges of allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The arrest followed extensive searches at properties linked to the forest official, during which investigators unearthed substantial movable and immovable assets.

According to the Vigilance Department, Nayak failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the source of the assets detected during the raids. Following the searches, he was taken into custody and is scheduled to be produced before the Special Vigilance Judge's Court in Cuttack.

During the investigation, Vigilance officials reportedly found a palatial four-storeyed residential building measuring around 7,038 square feet, another residential building, six high-value plots, 283 grams of gold ornaments, cash amounting to Rs. 2.14 lakh, bank deposits worth approximately Rs. 76 lakh, and one four-wheeler.

The seized assets are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation to determine whether they are disproportionate to Nayak's known and lawful sources of income.

Based on the findings, the Vigilance Department has registered a case against the Forest Ranger at Kataka Vigilance Police Station under Case No. 25/2026. The case has been booked under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018.

Officials said the investigation is continuing, and further inquiries will focus on verifying the ownership, valuation and source of the assets. The Vigilance Department is also examining financial records and other relevant documents to establish the extent of the alleged disproportionate assets accumulated by the accused officer.

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