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Odisha Vigilance officials on Tuesday arrested the District Agriculture Officer (DAO), Bolangir on charges of demanding and accepting Rs 7000 bribe from a fertiliser dealer.
The accused identified as Himansu Sekhar Padhi was caught red-handed while accepting bribe from one Duryodhan Barik from Pandakital village for issuing a Point of Sale (PoS) machine for his fertiliser centre.
According to a vigilance official, Barik had complained that Padhi was demanding bribe of Rs 7,000 for sanctioning him a Point of Sale machine which should be provided free of cost according to the provision of the government.
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The vigilance officers laid a trap accordingly and nabbed Padhi red-handed while accepting the bribe. A case has been registered against Padhi in this connection.
Subsequently, vigilance sleuths launched a raid at Padhi’s rented house in Hatisalapada and seized several documents and a packet of ganja.
However, Padhy has refuted the charges against him.
“Point of Sale machine is provided to the fertiliser dealers free of cost. I have not taken any bribe to provide it to Barik. In fact, I have cooperated with the vigilance sleuths fully as the officials were discharging their duties,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bolangir DSP Sadanand Pani confirmed that Padhi has been arrested for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 7,000.
“We have raided his rented house and seized the required documents. Further investigation into the incident is underway,” said Pani.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
