Bhubaneswar: Vigilance sleuths today arrested a forest range officer while accepting bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh for release of funds under Jagannath Bana Prakalpa.
The accused forest range officer has been identified as Chitaranjan Beura, posted at Mahabirod Range under DFO, Dhenkanal, a vigilance department release said.
He was caught red handed while accepting bribe of Rs 1,50,000 from one Pradipta Kumar Bhanja, Forester, Dadarghati Section under Mahabirod Range, Dhenkanal.
Beura was arrested on complaints made by Pradipta Kumar Bhanja to vigilance. He had taken the execution of Jagannath Bana Prakalpa with an estimated cost of Rs 11,14,300 and taken advance of Rs 6,79,500 and the project is continuing.
When Bhanja requested Chitaranjan Beura, Forest Range Officer for release of the rest amount of Rs 4,34,800, the accused allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 1,50,000.
A trap was laid by the vigilance department and Beura was caught red handed in his office room at Mahabirod Range, Dhenkanal by the Officers of Cuttack Vigilance Division.
Bribe money of Rs 1.5 lakh has been recovered from the possession of Beura, the release said.