Odisha Vigilance Arrests Forest Range Officer in Rs 80 Lakh Disproportionate Assets Case
In a major crackdown on corruption within the state’s forest department, Odisha Vigilance has arrested Rajendra Kumar Samantray, Forest Range Officer of Rahama in Jagatsinghpur district, for allegedly possessing assets far beyond his known sources of income.
The arrest, registered under Cuttack Vigilance Police Station Case No. 37/2025, comes after extensive raids across four locations linked to Samantray.
Officials uncovered a staggering cache of wealth, including a palatial multi-storeyed building, a double-storeyed house, five plots of land, Rs 3.69 lakh in cash, 250 grams of gold, and bank deposits worth Rs 80.68 lakh.
Samantray, who began his career as a Forester in 1985 with a modest salary of Rs 1,500, rose to the rank of Forest Ranger in August 2023.
His career trajectory now stands overshadowed by allegations of graft. Vigilance officials stated that he failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the sources of his wealth, leading to his immediate detention.
The arrest is part of Odisha’s intensified anti-corruption drive, which has seen multiple high-profile vigilance actions this year.
Investigators continue to scrutinise financial records, property deeds, and potential accomplices, with further disclosures expected as the probe deepens.
This case underscores growing concerns about systemic corruption in public service roles and highlights the state’s renewed push to enforce accountability among government employees.
