Vigilance nabs clerk for accepting Rs 7,000 bribe from tribal to release compensation in Sundargarh

Odisha Vigilance on Saturday caught a staffer of the Rukura Irrigation Project in Bonai, Sundargarh district, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000 from a tribal land loser for processing compensation.

The accused has been identified as Prithviraj Kamila, Clerk-cum-Cashier in the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Office of the Rukura Irrigation Project.

According to Vigilance sources, Kamila had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 to process the complainant’s file for the release of land acquisition compensation worth Rs 2.07 lakh. 

The complainant had earlier paid Rs 10,000, but his file was still not cleared. When he expressed his inability to pay the balance, Kamila reduced the demand to Rs 7,000.

Finding no other option, the complainant approached Odisha Vigilance. Acting on the complaint, a trap was laid and Kamila was apprehended while allegedly accepting the second installment of the bribe. The entire sum of Rs 7,000 was recovered from his possession.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are being carried out at four locations linked to Kamila on charges of disproportionate assets (DA).

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A case has been registered by Rourkela Vigilance under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation is underway.