Odisha: Clerk working at Sambalpur Collectorate in Vigilance net

Sambalpur: The Vigilance officials today arrested a clerk working at the Sambalpur Collectorate on charges of demanding and accepting bribe to pass the monthly allowance of a suspended employee.

The clerk, Shivaram Moharana working at the Information and Public Relation department of the Collector’s office demanded and accepted Rs 1500 from the suspended employee, Debananda Ranabida to clear his monthly allowance bill.

As per reports, in March, Ranabida along with two others was arrested for threatening Sambalpur DIPRO Hemant Naik. After Ranabida was sent to jail, he was suspended from the duties.

Ranabida was released from jail a few months back. He had been requesting Moharana, who is the Dealing Assistant at the DIPRO office, to clear his bill towards allowance for the month of May. But, Moharana demanded money from Ranabida to clear his payment.

Following this, Ranabida lodged a complaint with the Vigilance. Accordingly, the sleuths laid a trap. At around 11.30 am today, the clerk accepted the chemical laced three currency notes of Rs 500 each from Ranabida.

The Vigilance officials who were present nearby then caught the clerk and seized the currency notes from his possession.

Following his arrest, Moharana was forwarded to the court.

Vigilance SP Subash Singh said the sleuths also raided the houses of the clerk.