Odisha forest official’s ‘secret chamber with Rs 1.43 crore cash’ unearthed; Rs 1.5 kg gold, other high-value assets seized

Vigilance officials said they unearthed Rs 1.4 crore concealed in a secret treasury at one of his flats in Jeypore town. They used counting machines to count the large amount of cash recovered during the raids. They also found gold biscuits and gold coins during the raids.

Among his immovable properties, the anti-corruption wing unearthed a three-storey building measuring approximately 3,600 square feet in Jeypore, a 3bhk flat with an area of 1,800 sq ft in Bhubaneswar, and two 1,500 sq-ft flats and two high-value plots in Jeypore town. Vigilance’s technical wing is conducting detailed measurements and valuations of the identified properties, said officials.

With the raids continuing, Vigilance sources said they may recover more properties linked to the forest official. He is likely to be arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to records, Nepak joined government service as a village forest worker in March 1989 at the Koraput social forestry division. Currently, he holds a deputy ranger rank and is the in-charge ranger of Jeypore forest range, receiving a gross salary of Rs 76,880 per month.