CBI arrests two officials of MCL Talcher on graft charge

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an Assistant Revenue Inspector and a Manager (Mines & I/c L&R Section) of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL) Hingula Area in Talcher for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 to release compensation money.

CBI registered a case on a complaint alleging that the Assistant Revenue Inspector, Lokanath Naik and Manager (Mines & I/c L&R Section), Rabindra Kumar Padhi of MCL Hingula Area demanded bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the complainant for releasing the sanctioned compensation amount of Rs 5.78 lakh against acquisition of land in the name of complainant’s father by the MCL.

It was further alleged that the accused asked the complainant to pay bribe of Rs 70,000 as first installment and the balance amount after the release of compensation. After negotiations, the accused allegedly reduced the bribe from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 70,000 and agreed to accept Rs 20,000 as first installment.

CBI laid a trap and caught the accused while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant. Searches at the office and residence of both the accused were conducted which led to recovery of incriminating documents and articles etc.

Both the arrested accused were produced today before the Special Judge for CBI cases, Bhubaneswar.