Sundergarh: Officers of Vigilance, Sambalpur Division, on Tuesday arrested the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Bisra Block for demanding and accepting illegal gratification. The arrested BDO has been identified as Prasanta Kumar Rout.
According to reports, Rout had demanded a bribe of Rs.1,00,000 from complainant Prasanta Kumar Jena, Panchayat Executive Officer, (P.E.O.), Jhirpani Gram Panthayat under Bisra Block. He had asked the bribe to issue administrative approval for 4 nos. of works, to be executed departmentally, under 14th Finance Commission.
Later, the P.E.O informed about the matter to the anti-corruption agency, following which a trap was laid today. The accused BDO was caught red-handed by the Vigilance officers at the restroom of Bisra Block office. He had kept the bribe money in his table drawer after receiving it from Jena.
The bribe money was recovered from the possession of Rout and seized in the presence of witnesses. His right hand was washed as well as the table drawer wash given a positive chemical reaction, confirming acceptance and handling of bribe money by him.
Following Rout’s arrest, the Vigilance officials also conducted raids at his house located at Bhadrak Town, rented house at Bhubaneswar and Government quarter at Bisra.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered against the BDO at Sambalpur Vigilance P.S under section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
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