Odisha: Executive Officer, Accountant of NAC office in Vigilance net

Cuttack: The Vigilance officials today arrested the Executive Officer of Bijepur NAC and an Accountant of the NAC office on charges of accepting bribe to prepare pending bills and clear dues at Bijepur NAC office in Bargarh.

Official sources said a case has been registered at Sambalpur Vigilance PS under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and is under investigation.

As per reports, the NAC office Accountant, Manas Kumar Das was caught red-handed by the officers of Vigilance, Sambalpur Division for demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs 14,000 from one Madan Meher of village Dhama, Sambalpur in order to prepare pending bills and issue cheque towards hiring charges of Bolero vehicle engaged by Meher in NAC, Bijepur.

Based on a complaint filed by Meher, a trap was laid today. The accused Accountant was caught red-handed in his office room while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 14,000 from Meher.

After receiving the bribe amount of Rs 14,000 from the complainant, Das counted the same and kept Rs 12,000 in his office table drawer. He returned Rs 2,000 to the complainant and asked him to hand over the amount to Rukman Meher, the Executive Officer of Bijepur NAC. Accordingly, the complainant offered the amount to the Executive Officer.

But the Executive Officer told the complainant to keep the amount with the Accountant. Accordingly, the complainant again handed over the amount to the Accountant, who received the same and kept inside his table drawer.

Later the sleuths seized the bribe money Rs 14,000 from the table drawer of Das. Both hands wash of Das gave positive chemical reaction, confirming acceptance and handling of bribe money by him.

The sleuths also searched the residential house of the Accountant at Subarnanagar, Bargarh and residential house of the Eexecutive Officer at Bhatli Chowk, Bargarh were searched.