Two Odisha forest officials caught taking Rs 1.66 lakh bribe

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Jun 10, 2020 at 12:37 PM Updated On : Jun 10, 2020 at 1:40 PM

Balangir: Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Patnagarh Kendu Leaves Division Pranab Kumar Mohanty and Deputy Forest Range Officer (Kendu Leaf) Gharsien South Range Trilochana Dehury were detained by Vigilance officials today for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 1.66 lakh.

Today, Dehury was caught red-handed while accepting the percentage commission (PC) from departmental forest range officer Jagannath Dash.

As per complainant Dash, Rs 10.37 lakh was sanctioned for renovation of a Kendu leaves collection centres. The DFO had demanded Rs 1.66 lakh as PC. The forest range officer brought the matter to the notice of Vigilance. The anti-graft officials later laid a trap and caught the Deputy Forest Range Officer red-handed. After recovering the entire bribe money, the anti-graft officials conducted raid on the office and residential quarters of both the accused situated in Patnagarh and Balangir.

Sources said the DFO was under the Vigilance scanner since long. A special team was formed to nab him red-handed. Further inquiry is on this connection.

DFO caught taking Rs 1.66 lakh PC Odisha forest official caught taking Rs 1.66 lakh PC