Odisha Vigilance arrests forest officer for disproportionate assets and wildlife violations

Bhubaneswar, Aug 23: Odisha Vigilance on Friday arrested Dhenkanal Forest Range Officer Bibhudananda Mishra for allegedly accumulating assets beyond his known income sources. Mishra is also facing charges under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for unlawfully keeping Indian peafowl.

According to a Vigilance statement, searches revealed substantial assets, including a high-value flat in Bhubaneswar, two additional flats in Hyderabad, eight plots in Bhubaneswar and Dhenkanal, and a farmhouse with ongoing construction work valued at Rs 2 crore in Rahangol village, Athagarh. Additionally, investigators found deposits totaling Rs 1 crore, Rs 5.15 lakh in cash (including Rs 1 lakh hidden in a toilet flush tank), 557 grams of gold, and two vehicles. These assets were uncovered during simultaneous raids on properties associated with Mishra, which he could not adequately justify.

Raids were conducted at Mishra’s government quarters and office in Dhenkanal, his parental home in Birakishorepur, Athagarh, his farmhouse in Rahangol, his Bhubaneswar flat, and other locations. During the operation, officials from the Forest Wing of Odisha Vigilance, along with local Dhenkanal Forest staff, seized four peafowls from his farmhouse. Mishra has been charged under Sections 9, 39, and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Mishra began his career as an ad-hoc forester in August 1987, was made a regular forester in 1988, and was promoted to forest ranger in 2016.