Odisha Vigilance Conducts Raids on Watershed Joint Director in Asset Accumulation Probe

Simultaneous raids are underway by Odisha Vigilance at multiple locations linked to Dayanidhi Bagh, Joint Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development in Bhubaneswar. The raids are part of an investigation into allegations of accumulating assets that are not in line with his known sources of income. The investigation is linked to a previous case where four officials from the watershed wing in Rayagada district were arrested for the alleged misappropriation of approximately Rs 20 lakh in funds. The funds were intended for the construction of farm ponds in Kashipur block under MGNREGS during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years. Search operations are taking place in Bhubaneswar, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur, with warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna. A team of vigilance officers including DSPs, inspectors, and other staff are involved in the search operations.