Officer convicted in assets case

BHUBANESWAR: A Vigilance court has convicted former deputy director of Social Forestry Division Basanta Kumar Pradhan for possession of disproportionate assets and handed out a rigorous jail term for two years and a half.   Special Judge of Special Vigilance Court, Bhubaneswar asked Pradhan to pay Rs 20,000 in fine.  The Vigilance had found assets to the tune of Rs 6.55 lakh during the period between 1958 and 1990. He could not explain assets amounting to Rs  4.45 lakh. Since Pradhan was holding a high post, the State Government passed a special order for transfer of trial of the case in the Special Court here.  His was the eighth conviction pronounced by the Special Courts established under the Odisha Special Courts Act, 2006.Now that Pradhan has been convicted, Vigilance has filed confiscation proceedings against him and his wife before the authorised officer in the Special Court.