Odisha: The Vigilance Department on Friday arrested a forester in Kalahandi district for allegedly embezzling government funds worth over ₹55 lakh during the financial year 2024-25.
The Vigilance Department stated that Jaya Kumar Juad, a forester at the Forest Range Officer’s office in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, allegedly embezzled government funds worth ₹55.04 lakh by preparing false muster rolls and vouchers for Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) works at plantation sites under the Thuamul Rampur Forest Section during 2024-25.
Modus of the Accused Forester
The accused allegedly embezzled funds provided under the Compensatory Afforestation and Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Compensatory Afforestation (CA), and Catchment Plan Area (CPA), it said.
According to the Vigilance Department, the investigation revealed that the forester and his associates bypassed financial safeguards at three specific plantation sites under the Thuamul Rampur Forest Section. They created fake muster rolls, listed non-existent workers or inflated working hours, and created vouchers by submitting false bills for materials and logistics that were never purchased or used.
A case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and the BNS. The Vigilance Department said, “The investigation is still ongoing and the accused will be produced in a local court.”
