Bhubaneswar: A special Vigilance court in Oisha’s Balangir on Monday sentenced two retired forest officials to rigorous imprisonment for three years in a bribery case involving Rs 1.66 lakh.
The court awarded the jail term while convicting Pranab Kumar Mohanty, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Kendu Leaf, Patnagarh Division, and Chittaranjan Dehury, former Deputy Range Officer, Kendu Leaf, Ghasian South Range, Patnagarh, in the case.
The court also imposed a fine on each of the convicts, a Vigilance statement said.
The two had been charge-sheeted by the Vigilance in connection with Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station case registered on June 8, 2020, under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
According to the Vigilance, Mohanty and Dehury had demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 1.66 lakh from a Range Officer under Patnagarh Range in Balangir for releasing funds towards the repair and maintenance of Kendu Leaf Phadies (godowns).
Both accused officials have since retired from service.
Following their conviction, Odisha Vigilance said it would move the competent authority for stoppage of pension of both Mohanty and Dehury.
