Tehsil clerk caught red-handed while taking bribe for land demarcation in Jajpur

In a major crackdown on corruption, another government official has landed in the vigilance net. Hemanta Kumar Terai, a senior revenue assistant clerk working at the Vyasanagar Tehsil Office in Jajpur district, was caught red-handed by the Vigilance team while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 on Friday.

According to sources, Hemanta had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 from one Lakshmidhar Sahu, a resident of Barundei area under Korei Police Station. The bribe was reportedly sought for demarcation of Sahu’s private land. 

Despite repeated visits to the tehsil office, Sahu’s work remained pending. When requested to complete the task without a bribe, the clerk allegedly refused to cooperate.

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Frustrated and left with no other option, Sahu approached the Vigilance Department. Acting on the complaint, officials laid a trap. As per the pre-planned operation, Sahu handed over Rs 5,000 as part of the demanded bribe to Hemanta at the tehsil office, during which Vigilance officers swooped in and apprehended him on the spot.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on at three locations linked to Hemanta from  DA angle. 

In this connection, Cuttack Vigilance PS Case No.20 dtd.31.07.2025 U/s- 7 P C Act, 1988 as amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered. Investigation is in progress against the accused.

Earlier this month, Odisha Vigilance had arrested Dayanidhi Bagh, Joint Director of Soil Conservation & Watershed Development, for possession of disproportionate assets (DA) worth several crores.