Bhubaneswar, January 2: Odisha Vigilance has arrested Jaya Kumar Juad, a forester in the Forest Department, for embezzling over Rs 55 lakh. Juad, posted at Biswanathpur under Kalahandi’s Lanjigarh range, is accused of manipulating funds for Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) works in the Thuamul Rampur Forest Section.

He allegedly fabricated muster rolls and forged vouchers to misappropriate Rs 55,04,607, using non-existent laborers and inflating work hours. The funds involved included high-priority environmental allocations from the CAMPA and other conservation schemes.

Juad has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023.