Khandapada Tehsildar Dhobei Nayak, a senior Odisha Administrative Officer (OAS), was arrested on Tuesday by the vigilance sleuths for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 for releasing a murram-laden vehicle.
One of his associates was also arrested while receiving the money on behalf of his tehsildar.
Dr Sravana Vivek M., IPS SP Vigilance, on Wednesday, said, “Yesterday night, the Odisha vigilance team received a complaint from the front personnel, which said that the Tehsildar retained his truck in which he was carrying the money. He was asked for a bribe of Rs 20,000 to detain the vehicle.”
The complaint reached out to the vigilance team and a case was immediately registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant sections.
“The complainant immediately reached out to the vigilance team and the case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant sections,” Sravana said.
Further, he added, “The bribe amount was given to the agent and the associate of the Tehsildar who collected the money, after which both the Tehsildar and the agent were arrested.”
The Tehsildar owned three properties, which were also searched. “Three of his properties–one rented, one owned and one of his parents were searched.”
The vigilance case has been registered and is being looked into.
Previously, on May 26, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Prashant Jagdev was arrested by the Odisha Police for allegedly entering the polling booth during elections and misbehaving with the presiding and polling officers, as per an official.
Jagdev, who is an MLA from the Chilika Assembly constituency, was arrested on charges of allegedly topping an electronic voting machine (EVM) and assaulting two police officers during the polling.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Awinash Kumar said Jagdev had misbehaved and abused the officials and also damaged the VVPAT control units inside the booth. (ANI)