Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested a former forester of Athagarh Forest Division for allegedly misappropriating Rs 7.41 lakh in government funds by submitting fake and inflated bills under a CAMPA-funded plantation project.
The accused, Ashis Naik, formerly posted as a forester in Athagarh Forest Division and currently working at the DFO’s office in Cuttack, was arrested following an investigation based on reliable inputs, the Vigilance said.
According to the agency, the alleged fraud relates to the 2025-26 Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) Plantation project under the CAMPA scheme in Oringa Reserve Forest covering Kuleilo and Sadar beats under Athagarh Sadar Section.
The investigation found that Naik allegedly claimed to have carried out plantation work and drew funds despite failing to plant 11,376 saplings. The alleged irregularities caused a loss of Rs 7,41,297 to the state exchequer, the Vigilance said.
A case has been registered at Kataka Vigilance Police Station under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Naik was being forwarded to the Special Court (Vigilance), Kataka, following his arrest, the agency said.
