Odisha: Gram Rozgar Sevak, Horticulture Overseer In Vigilance Net In Graft Case

Nabarangpur/Kandhamal: Two government officials from Odisha have landed in Vigilance net on graft charges in two separate developments in the State in the last two days.

Vigilance officials on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at the houses and office of Himanchal Bagh, Gram Rozgar Sevak of Singhsari GP under Umerkote block of Nabarangpur district for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The anti-graft officials of Koraput Division carried out searches at three places including Bagh's two residential houses in Umerkote and office at Singhsari in the district.

The raids were conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by the Special Judge Vigilance, Jeypore, said reports.

However, the exact amount of property unearthed will be known after the raids are over, said officials.

In a similar case, Batakrushna Kata, an overseer with Daringbadi Horticulture division was arrested on Wednesday after being caught red-handed by the Vigilance sleuths of Berhampur Division for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs.10,000 from one Pure Pradhan of Malebadi in Kandhamal district on Wednesday.

Kata had demanded the bribe from Pradhan in order to process wage list for release of labour payment under MGNREGA scheme.

Acting on Pradhan's complaint, the Vigilance officials laid a trap and caught Kata while taking the bribe money yesterday.

A case under section 7 PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 was registered against Pradhan by the Berhampur Vigilance and he was forwarded to the court later in the day. Further investigation into the case is underway.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)