Keonjhar, Jul 22: In a major crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance has arrested Nityananda Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of KL Division, Keonjhar, for possessing disproportionate assets (DA) far beyond his known sources of income.

The arrest follows a two-day-long search and interrogation operation that uncovered a staggering array of properties and valuables.

According to officials, Nayak was found in possession of a multi-storeyed building spanning 9,000 sq ft in Angul, a lavish farmhouse at Chhendipada, Angul spread over 1.5 acres, and 115 plots of land. The farmhouse includes an outhouse of 1,432 sq ft, another house of 314 sq ft, a pond over 0.40 acres, two bore wells, one well, and plantations of hundreds of coconut, banana, and mango trees.

In addition to immovable assets, Nayak also held 200 grams of gold, ₹10.25 lakh in cash, bank deposits exceeding ₹50.38 lakh, and two four-wheelers. Officials stated that Nayak failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the sources of these assets.

The case has been registered under Balasore Vigilance PS Case No. 6/2025, under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Nayak has been formally placed under arrest and will be presented before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar.

This arrest marks a significant development in Odisha’s ongoing efforts to root out corruption within government departments. Further investigations are underway, and more revelations are expected in the coming days.

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