Odisha Vigilance files 5000-page chargesheet against dismissed IFoS officer Abhay Pathak & his son
Odisha Vigilance filed a 5000-page chargesheet against former Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Abhay Kant Pathak and his son Akash before Special Judge (Vigilance) in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
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Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance filed a 5000-page chargesheet against former Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Abhay Kant Pathak and his son Akash before Special Judge (Vigilance) in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
On November 27, 2020, the officer was charged with misusing his official position and amassing ill-gotten wealth during his tenure as a public servant. The investigation and house searches in 16 locations (7 in Odisha, 2 in Bihar, 6 in Mumbai/Pune, Maharastra, and 1 in Rajasthan) revealed disproportionate assets totaling Rs 14,25,46,901, according to a Vigilance release.
More than Rs 10 crore in cash deposits and account transfers totaling around Rs 5 crore were discovered in the father-son duo's various bank accounts. "In this regard, both accused persons failed to provide a satisfactory explanation." As a result, a 5000-page Charge Sheet has been filed in the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, documenting detailed evidence against the accused Abhay Kant Pathak for possession of Disproportionate Assets, and his son Akash Kumar Pathak for abetting the offence, in order for them to stand trial in a court of law," it said.
On August 18, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet under the anti-money laundering law against the 1987-batch IFoS officer and his son, who were compulsorily retired in May 2021 by the Centre on the recommendation of the Odisha government following the Vigilance case. The ED has also attached assets worth more than Rs 1 crore and seized Pathak's BMW car.
Pathak was most recently employed by the Odisha government as the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (plan, program, and afforestation). Akash was also arrested for allegedly duping people in exchange for jobs.
