Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Wednesday apprehended Assistant Record Keeper at the office of Settlement Officer in Keonjhar, Hadibandhu Behera, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000.
According to a Vigilance release, Behera had demanded illegal gratification from a poor farmer to provide him the certified copy of documents related to khatian and amin report in respect of their disputed ancestral land for which he had applied on July 4.
The revenue staffer refused to furnish the certified copy of land records unless he was paid the demanded bribe. Left with no other option, the farmer approached the Vigilance authorities and reported the alleged harassment. Following which a trap was and Behera was nabbed while accepting Rs 3,000. The entire bribe money was recovered from his possession and seized.
Simultaneous searches are currently underway at two locations linked to Behera to ascertain whether he has accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
A case under Section 7 of PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, has been registered against him and further investigation is on, the release added.
