Bhubaneswar, August 17: A video showing Buguda Forest Ranger Pradeep Kumar Mishra allegedly taking a bribe of ₹5,000 from a timber trader has surfaced on social media, exposing corruption within the forest department.
The footage, reportedly shot inside the ranger’s quarters at the Buguda Range Office in Ganjam, shows Mishra counting ₹500 notes handed over by the trader in exchange for the release of a seized timber-laden vehicle.
The viral clip has triggered embarrassment for the Forest Department at a time when the Odisha government is emphasizing strict action against illegal logging and promoting afforestation.
