Departmental probe ordered into forester Sanjay Nayak’s death

Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: The alleged suicide of forester Sanjay Nayak has sparked significant controversy after his family accused a District Forest Officer (DFO) of being responsible for his death. In response, the Odisha government has initiated a departmental inquiry into the incident. According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Devidutta Biswal, an officer of the rank of Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) is currently leading the investigation.

This inquiry was prompted by the discovery of a suicide note that suggested Nayak held the Rayagada DFO accountable for his actions. Nayak’s family, including his wife and brother, claim that DFO Debendra Kumar Behera’s demands for bribes drove him to take this drastic measure. They allege that the DFO pressured Nayak for bribe money, which ultimately led to his despair.

PCCF Biswal stated that if the police report substantiates the allegations, the department will take strict action against the implicated officer. Priyanka Subudhi, Nayak's wife, further accused the DFO of subjecting her husband to mental harassment in connection with illegal payments from various departmental projects. “My husband took his life because of the DFO. He used to pay him Rs 20,000-30,000 each month, and I witnessed this pressure firsthand,” she said, calling for justice for her husband.

Behera also serves as the Silviculturist in the Silviculture Division of Rayagada.