Odisha Forester’s Death: PCCF Warns Of Stern Action If Evidence Is Found On Bribe Allegation

Bhubaneswar: A day after wife and brother of Odisha forester Sanjaya Nayak alleged that the bribe demand by Rayagada DFO Debendra Kumar Behera forced him to take his life, PCCF Devidutta Biswal on Friday said the department would take stern action if evidence is found in police report against the Forest employee.

Speaking to the media, Biswal said he was aware that Nayak died of unnatural causes and the police were investigating into the case. The department would initiate an investigation on its own if any Forest official is found involved in the death of the forester.

On the allegation of the DFO putting pressure on Nayak for more bribe, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) said, “The department maintains a transparent accounting system. In order to prevent any irregular practices, we follow double entry process of all payments and income. If any Forest official resorts to irregularities, it would be reflected in the system.”

Stating that they were waiting for the preliminary report of the police, Biswal said, “If any suspicious activities is found in the report, we will take definite steps by launching our own investigation.”

Similarly, if any Forest official is found responsible for the alleged suicide of the forester, the department would take stern action against him, he added.

It may be noted that the forester was found hanging at his official quarters in Bhawanipatna on Wednesday. His wife on Thursday alleged that DFO Behera was mentally torturing Nayak for PC (abbreviation used for percentage to describe bribe money in common parlance) from different projects of the department under the range for the last few years.

“My husband ended his life because of the DFO. He used to give Rs 20,000-30,000 to the DFO every month and I am aware of it. The DFO had been torturing him and he took the extreme step unable to bear the pressure,” she said, demanding justice for her husband.

The forester’s brother Rabi Narayan Nayak has lodged a complaint at Town police station, alleging that 35-year-old Nayak, who was working in the forest research wing at Jaring for the last four years, was continuously pressurised for PC by the DFO.

The DFO had also threatened to halt his promotion and suspend him by implicating him in a false case while demanding more PC, the forester’s brother alleged, adding that the last straw perhaps was his recent transfer to Balangir.