Odisha Vigilance files 5,000-page chargesheet against former IFS officer Abhay Pathak, son in DA case

While the vigilance directorate had found DA worth Rs 9.35 crore from the possession of Pathak senior, his son was arrested for allegedly abetting his father’s corrupt practices. Abhay Pathak, an IFS officer of the 1987 batch, became the additional chief conservator of forests (plan, programme and afforestation) in 2020.

During the course of the investigation, house searches were conducted in 16 places including seven places in Odisha, two in Bihar, six places in Maharashtra and one place in Rajasthan. Relevant materials, documents and information relating to assets, income and expenditure were collected.

“After completion of the investigation, Abhay Kant Pathak was found in possession of assets disproportionate to the tune of Rs 14.25 crore. Cash deposits of more than Rs 10 crore and account transfers of around Rs 5 crore were found in different bank accounts of the father-son duo during the probe,” said a vigilance officer.

Both the accused failed to provide a satisfactory explanation in this regard. Thereafter, the 5,000-page chargesheet was filed in the court of special judge, vigilance, Bhubaneswar.

The vigilance had recently received the sanction of prosecution against Abhay Pathak from the Union government.

Abhay Pathak was also given compulsory retirement by the Odisha government in May 2021, after the Centre approved the state government’s recommendations for the same as per the Odisha government’s premature retirement policy.

While recommending the Centre for Abhay Pathak’s premature retirement, the Odisha government had termed him “very corrupt and high flying” and also alleged that he was depositing his ill-gotten wealth in the account of his son Akash Pathak.

Tuesday’s development came a day after a local court framed charges against Akash Pathak along with expelled BJD MLA Pradeep Panigrahy and V Sarveswar Rao in a Crime Branch case in connection with a high-profile job scam in the name of Tata Motors. The Crime Branch arrested Akash Pathak on December 3. Panigrahy’s daughter was set to get married to Akash Pathak.