Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance today arrested Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nityananda Nayak of KL Division, Keonjhar, for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, including a staggering 115 plots and a lavish farmhouse in Angul district.

During a two-day search operation, Vigilance officials unearthed extensive assets accumulated by Nayak, an officer of the Odisha Forest Service (OFS-I). Among the most significant discoveries was a multi-storeyed building covering 9,000 square feet in Angul, gold weighing 200 grams, cash amounting to ₹10.25 lakh, bank deposits exceeding ₹50.38 lakh, and two four-wheelers.

Further searches led to the discovery of a farmhouse at Chhendipada in Angul, spread over approximately 1.5 acres. The property includes an outhouse measuring 1,432 sq ft, a second structure of 314 sq ft, a pond excavated at an estimated cost of ₹30 lakh, two borewells, one well, and plantations of hundreds of coconut, banana, and mango trees.

According to Vigilance sources, Nayak had initially concealed details of the farmhouse. However, officials found a diary during a raid on his Keonjhar residence, documenting payments and expenditures linked to the development of the farmhouse. This led another Vigilance team, along with technical experts, to locate and begin evaluating the asset.

In total, Nayak has been found in possession of:

1 multi-storeyed building (9,000 sq ft)

1 farmhouse at Chhendipada, Angul

115 valuable land plots

200 grams of gold

₹10.25 lakh in cash

Bank deposits over ₹50.38 lakh

2 four-wheelers

A case under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act has been registered at Balasore Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 6/2025). Nayak was arrested and forwarded to the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Keonjhar.

Further investigation is underway.