Good riddance! Drivers rejoice after arrest of tainted Boudh RTO in DA case

Peculiar scenes unfolded in front of the Regional Transport Office in Boudh on Friday evening as drivers and vehicle owners were seen dancing and rejoicing over the arrest of RTO Basanta Kumar Mohapatra.

The drivers expressed their happiness after knowing that Mohapatra has fallen into the vigilance net and arrested for amassing disproportionate assets.

“I had gone to him (Basanta Mohapatra) for a National Permit for my vehicle. He demanded Rs 20,000, so I gave him the bribe inside his car. It has been weeks, but I am yet to get the permit. Despite having all the required documents and paying the bribe, I am yet to receive my permit. I am really happy after his arrest,” said a happy driver rejoicing over Mohapatra’s arrest.

It is pertinent to mention here that the sleuths of the Odisha Vigilance Department raided the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Boudh district, Basanta Kumar Mohapatra over allegations of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income on Thursday.

As per reports, simultaneous raids were conducted at 10 places linked to Mohapatra at 4 am on Thursday morning. They found property worth more than Rs 19 crore from the raids which is 445 percent more than his known source of income.

Speaking about the arrest, Vigilance Cell SP M Radhakrishnan said, “We have counted DA which is 445 percent of his income. He has been arrested on that basis and forwarded to the court.”

Mohapatra was earlier suspended in 2012 when he was placed as the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) in Sambalpur district. He was reportedly suspended after failing to provide the account of Rs 26,000 cash recovered from his bag while checking vehicles at Laxmi Dunguri check gate in 2012.