Odisha official jailed for taking bribe

Reported by Malay Ray
Bonei, Mar 11:

A Gram Panchayat Technical Assistant (GPTA) of Sundargarh’s Bonei, arrested by the Vigilance sleuths today for taking a bribe Rs 32,500 from a contractor, was later remanded to judicial custody after the Sambalpur Vigilance court rejected his bail plea.

The GPTA, identified as Sushant Kumar Seth (33), had demanded the money from Debananda Lugun, the contractor, to clear his bill.

Lugun had been awarded a work order for the construction work of a road at Badgaon Christian Para of Bonei worth Rs 2,50,000 under the MLALAD fund by the Bonei Block Development Officer (BDO).

While the contractor had completed the construction work of the road about two months ago and had submitted his bill, it was stuck under the red tape at Seth’s table.

After repeated follow ups by the contractor, Seth demanded a bribe of Rs 32,500 this morning to clear his bill.

The contractor, however, reported the incident to Vigilance DSP P Kisan.

Kisan, in turn, led a team of cops to Bonei this afternoon and nabbed Seth red-handed at his Bonei residence after he received the bribe amount from the contractor. The team also raided his residence at Sundargarh following the arrest.

Seth, a resident of Chhatainpali in Sundargarh, has been forwarded to Sambalpur Vigilance court tonight.

“We caught him red-handed while he was taking a bribe Rs 32,500 from contractor Debanand Lugun. Sushant Kumar Seth has been forwarded to Sambalpur vigilance court,” said DSP of Vigilance Kisan.