Bhubaneswar: A Forester was apprehended by Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Thursday for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 to allow a tractor to pass through forest road.
The accused, identified as Rakesh Kumar Panda, is posted as Forester at Ankui under Delang Range in Puri district. He was caught while taking from a tractor owner to allow his tractor to pass through a forest road carrying excavated earth to be dumped on his field.
The accused Forester had earlier threatened that the vehicle would be seized if it was found using the forest road without prior permission. However, he demanded Rs 25,000/- as bribe from the tractor owner to allow him to use the forest road.
Finding no other means, the tractor owner reported the matter to vigilance authorities. Following this, a team of Vigilance nabbed Panda while taking Rs 25,000/- from the complainant. The entire tainted bribe money has been recovered from the possession of Panda and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on at two locations connected to the Forester from Disproportionate Assets angle. A case has been registered and investigation is underway.
