Forest Rights Assistant Held For Demanding Rs 23K Bribe In Odisha’s Sambalpur

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Monday apprehended Forest Rights Assistant (FRA), Nighat Parbeen, posted at the office of sub-collector at Kuchinda in Odisha’s Sambalpur district while allegedly accepting Rs 8000 bribe.

According to an official release, she had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 23,000 from a representative of beneficiaries under Forest Rights Act to process a file for issuing Individual Forest Rights (IFR). She had earlier taken Rs 15,000 and had been demanding another Rs 8,000 to get the work done.

Since the beneficiaries were poor and were unable to meet her demand, they approached the Vigilance department with their complaint. Following which a trap was laid and the FRA nabbed with the bribe money.

The release further said that simultaneous searches are on at two locations liked to the accused to ascertain whether she had accumulated assets disproportionate to her known sources of income.