Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government on Sunday suspended a mining officer in the office of the Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack, Rajendra Prasad Khuntia, with immediate effect as part of disciplinary action.
Minister of Commerce & Transport, Steel & Mines Bibhuti Bhusan Jena shared the government order and stated that the action was taken as there was no improvement in his conduct. “The government is keeping a close eye on the work of other mining officers. Strict action will be taken if any irregularities are noticed,” he wrote.
This came a couple of days after Khuntia was captured on camera allegedly accepting Rs 50,000 bribe from a sand mafia in Cuttack and the video went viral. He had, however, refuted the allegation and said that it was part of a penalty slapped on the individual last year.
An audio of his speaking to a sand mafia had earlier gone viral, following which he was transferred. But he was later shifted back to Kendrapada.
Khuntia has been reassigned to the Office of the Deputy Director of Mines, Phulbani in Kandhamal district as his headquarters during the suspension period. He is also prohibited from leaving the headquarters without prior permission from the Deputy Director of Mines, Phulbani.
During his suspension, he will be entitled to receive a subsistence allowance as per Rule 90 of the Orissa Service Code, it added.
