Cuttack: In a significant verdict under the anti-corruption framework, a Special Vigilance Court in Cuttack on Monday sentenced retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Amresh Kumar Jaiswal to two years of rigorous imprisonment for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Jaiswal, who served as Conservator of Forests in the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Aranya Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, has also been fined ₹50,000 by the court.
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Conviction Under Prevention of Corruption Act
As per an official press release, the Odisha Vigilance had charge-sheeted Jaiswal under:
- Section 13(2) read with
- Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
These sections pertain to criminal misconduct by public servants in possession of wealth disproportionate to their lawful income.
The Special Judge (Vigilance) found the accused guilty after the culmination of trial proceedings and delivered the sentence on Monday.
Next Steps: Pension Stoppage Proceedings Initiated
Following the conviction, the Odisha Vigilance Department has announced that it will move the competent authority to initiate proceedings for stoppage of Jaiswal’s pension.
The action comes in line with the provisions that allow pension benefits to be withdrawn in cases involving corruption and criminal misconduct during service.
Broader Crackdown on Corruption in Odisha
This case marks another successful prosecution by Odisha Vigilance, which has intensified its crackdown on corruption in the state bureaucracy. Officials have reiterated their commitment to pursuing cases of illegal wealth accumulation by public servants and ensuring accountability post-retirement.
