Rourkela: Vigilance sleuths arrested the tehsildar of Lathikata block in Sundargarh district following seizure of Rs 5 lakh from his possession on Wednesday night.
The official, identified as Bijay Behera, was on the way to his house located at Chhatrapur when a team of Cuttack Vigilance Cell intercepted his car at Pallahara and seized the cash from his vehicle. Behera’s associate Pramod Beuria, who was accompanying him in the vehicle, has also been detained for interrogation in this case. Beuria is a retired revenue supervisor.
Following the seizure, the anti-corruption officials searched the tehsildar’s house and office as well as Beuria’s residence located at Kuanramunda area. Bijay was under the scanner of the vigilance department since long for allegedly demanding bribe to carry out work in the block.
The vigilance officials acted on a tip-off and waylaid Behera.
