Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Sunday arrested a Forest Range Officer of Gudari Range in Rayagada district on allegations of bribery and possession of disproportionate cash.
According to an official press release, the accused officer, identified as Sukumar Dukhu, was allegedly collecting illegal gratification as “PC” (percentage commission) from contractors engaged in execution of various Forest Department schemes.
Acting on credible inputs, Vigilance officials kept a close watch on his movements. The officer was intercepted near Indrabati Bridge in Nabarangpur district while he was travelling from Gudari to his residence at Senapati Street in Nabarangpur in an official Bolero vehicle.
During the search, Rs 2.33 lakh in suspected ill-gotten cash was recovered from his possession. He failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the money, following which the entire cash along with the official vehicle bearing registration number OD18K-7041 was seized.
Following the interception, simultaneous searches were conducted at his residential house at Senapati Street in Nabarangpur, his government quarter at Gumuda in Rayagada district, and his office at Gudari Range.
Based on the complaint, Koraput Vigilance Police Station Case No. 03 dated 12.04.2026 has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The accused officer has been arrested and will be produced before the court.
Investigation is in progress.
