A controversy has surfaced in Odisha after it was revealed that the state Forest Department spent a large amount of money on purchasing and modifying official vehicles. During the 2024–25 financial year, the department bought 51 Mahindra Thar SUVs for around Rs 7 crore. However, records later showed that nearly Rs 5 crore more was spent on modifying these vehicles, pushing the total cost close to Rs 12 crore.

According to official documents, each Mahindra Thar was purchased for approximately Rs 14 lakh. The additional money was spent on modifications such as installing extra lights, cameras, sirens, special tyres, and other equipment. These details triggered criticism and raised questions about whether such high spending was necessary.

After the public backlash, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia ordered a special audit of the entire purchase. He also instructed officials to closely examine both the vehicle procurement process and the expenses incurred on modifications. The minister said that while some changes to the vehicles might be required for forest operations, any unnecessary or excessive spending would not be accepted.

The minister explained that the purpose of the audit is to find out why these modifications were made and whether they were genuinely needed for the department’s work. He made it clear that strict action would be taken if any fittings were found to be unnecessary, excessive, or installed without proper approval. The state government has also warned that any illegal or suspicious activity found during the audit will lead to strong action against those responsible.

Forest Department officials defended the decision, saying the SUVs were bought for important tasks such as controlling forest fires, deploying staff in remote and border areas, protecting wildlife, and stopping illegal activities like poaching and timber smuggling. They claimed that the difficult terrain and harsh working conditions in forest areas made these modifications essential.

Despite these explanations, concerns remain over whether proper approvals were taken before spending such a large amount of public money. Questions have also been raised about whether the same objectives could have been achieved at a lower cost.

Government sources said that responsibility will be fixed once the audit report is submitted. Any further action will depend on the findings of the investigation. The Odisha government has stated that the full picture will become clear only after the audit is completed. Meanwhile, the issue has placed the Forest Department’s spending decisions under intense public and political scrutiny, with many demanding transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer money.