Key Takeaways
- ED conducts raids on forest officials in Odisha as part of an investigation into alleged embezzlement of government funds.
- Approximately ₹2.5 crore from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund was transferred to mule accounts.
- Forest officials are suspected to have misappropriated funds allocated for various government schemes.
Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhubaneswar Zonal Office, conducted search operations at the offices and residences of forest range officials of Jaipatna Range in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
The raids were conducted in connection with the alleged misuse and diversion of government funds meant for compensatory afforestation. Investigations revealed that approximately Rs.2.5 crore from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) during 2023-24 was transferred to mule accounts.
According to ED sources, the raids were carried out on Friday based on an Operational Analysis Report related to Money Mule Accounts, which was received from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
Preliminary investigations suggest that multiple forest department officials were involved in using multiple mule accounts to divert large sums of money and misappropriate funds allocated for various government schemes.
The probe further revealed that over 120 officials, including forest guards and rangers, were involved in opening multiple mule accounts under different names. These accounts received funds via NEFT transfers from the range office, followed by immediate withdrawals through ATMs. Notably, many of these accounts were linked to the same mobile numbers.
ED sources suspect that the total diversion of Forest Department funds exceeds ₹2.5 crore. The funds were transferred from the Jaipatna Range Office to mule bank accounts via National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and were immediately withdrawn using ATMs.
During the search operations, ED seized various ATM cards linked to mule accounts, mobile phones, withdrawal slips, digital devices, incriminating documents, and an illegal suspected tiger skin.
Further investigation is underway.
