Malkangiri/Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Tuesday apprehended Suraj Bala, Revenue Inspector of Jharapali Circle under Malkangiri tahasil, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 for processing a Scheduled Caste certificate.
The complainant had applied online for a Scheduled Caste certificate in favour of his spouse as per the prescribed procedure of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and had paid the required fee.
According to a vigilance release, Bala delayed the verification process and demanded Rs 10,000, instructing the applicant to pay Rs 8,000 upfront and Rs 2,000 after the work was completed. Aggrieved by the demand and harassment, the applicant approached the vigilance authorities. A team of Odisha Vigilance then laid a trap and caught Bala red-handed while accepting the Rs 8,000 bribe in his office chamber. The entire tainted amount was recovered from his possession and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations linked to Bala from the angle of disproportionate assets. A case has been registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigation is underway.
The release further stated that Bala was earlier caught while allegedly accepting Rs 15,000 to issue a notice of appearance in an encroachment case. That matter is currently sub judice.