Odisha Vigilance arrests Forester over Rs 1 lakh bribe; Rs 1.72 lakh seized during house search

Balangir: Odisha Vigilance today arrested Harihar  Swain, Forester, Sindhekela Beat under Bangomunda Forest Range in Balangir district for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 1,00,300.

According to reports, he was receiving the amount from labourers working for different projects of the Forest Department. The entire bribe money has been recovered from Swain and seized by the anti-corruption agency.

Sources said Swain had transferred wages to the bank accounts of the labourers, who were engaged under the MGNREGA scheme, even as they hadn’t worked.

After the arrest of Swain, Vigilance officials conducted house searches at various places belonging to Swain and have recovered Rs 1,72,550 cash, so far.

A case under Section 7 (b) of P.C. (Amendment) Act has been registered against Swain in this connection.

Further probe was underway.