Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday apprehended Hadibandhu Behera, Assistant Record Keeper (ARK) at the Settlement Office in Keonjhar, while accepting a bribe for providing certified land records.
According to an official press release, Behera was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from a complainant, a poor farmer seeking certified copies of Khatian and Amin reports related to a disputed ancestral land. The complainant had filed the request on July 4, 2025.
Despite repeated requests, Behera allegedly refused to release the documents unless the bribe was paid. Frustrated, the complainant approached Vigilance authorities and lodged a complaint.
Acting swiftly, Vigilance officials set up a trap and apprehended Behera at his Keonjhar office while accepting the bribe. The entire amount was recovered and seized.
Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are underway at two locations linked to Behera in connection with a disproportionate assets probe.
A case (Balasore Vigilance P.S. Case No. 08/2025) has been registered against Behera under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing.
Further updates will be provided as the case develops.
