Dikhyaa Mohanty 
President Ram Nath Kovind has ordered the compulsory retirement of Odisha cadre IFS officer Abhay Kant Pathak from service who have served as the additional principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF).
As part of its policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, the Odisha government had recommended the action against the 1987 batch IFS officer, terming him as very corrupt and high-flying. As per the report Abhay Kant Pathak is accused of amassing disproportionate assets worth several crores.
Abhay Kant Pathak who served as the additional principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), would have become the next principal chief conservator of forests of Odisha in June this year.
However, his corruption came to light after Vigilance officials raided his residence and other places in November 2020 and found disproportionate assets worth Rs 9.35 crore.
The anti-corruption officials also found cash deposits worth Rs 17 crore in the bank accounts of his son Akash Pathak, who is serving a jail term for impersonation, forgery and cheating of youths with the promise of jobs in Tata Motors.
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been continuously emphasizing a high degree of morality and integrity in public service, had written a letter to the Centre on December 17 last year and stated that the State Vigilance had arrested Abhay and his son Akash Pathak on evidence of amassing disproportionate assets worth over Rs 20 crore.
The letter quoted – “Abhay Kant Pathak was making cash deposits of his ill-gotten wealth in his son Akash Pathak’s bank accounts and further helping his son in fraudulently posing as managing director of Tata Motors. His son has been also arrested by Crime Branch in case of forgery, cheating and duping unemployed youth by taking huge cash from them on job pretext.”
