Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance Department Tuesday filed a 5,000-page chargesheet against former Additional Chief Conservator of Forest Abhay Kanta Pathak and his son Akash Pathak before the Special Judge Bhubaneswar for possession of disproportionate assets (DA) worth over Rs 14.25 crore.
The Vigilance officials filed the chargesheet after receipt of sanction of prosecution from the Union government against Abhay Kant Pathak and his son Akash Kumar Pathak
A DA case was registered against the then Chief Conservator of Forest (Plan, Programme & Afforestation), Odisha, Bhubaneswar and his son in November 2020 for possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income.
During the course of investigation, house searches were conducted at far-flung areas in over 16 places including seven places in Odisha, two places in Bihar, six places in Mumbai/Pune and in one place in Rajasthan.
Vigilance sources said relevant materials, documents and information relating to assets, income and expenditure were collected.
After completion of investigation, Abhay Kant Pathak was found in possession of assets disproportionate to the tune of Rs 14,25,46,901.
During investigation, more than Rs 10 crore of cash deposits and account transfers of around Rs 5 crore in different bank accounts of Abhay Kant Pathak and his son were found.
Both the accused persons failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the possession of such huge assets.
UNI
