Bhubaneswar: A Special Vigilance Court in Kataka on Monday sentenced a retired health official to four years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) in a bribery case involving demand for issuance of a death certificate.
The court convicted Rasabihari Mohanty, former Multi-Purpose Health Supervisor (Male) and then in-charge of the Vital Statistics Section, UGPHC, Patkura in Kendrapada district, after finding him guilty of corruption charges. The court also imposed a fine in the case.
According to an official press release, Mohanty had been charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) and 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He was accused of demanding and accepting a bribe from a complainant for issuing the death certificate of her deceased father.
Following trial, the Special Judge, Vigilance, Cuttack, held him guilty and awarded the sentence of four years’ rigorous imprisonment along with monetary penalty.
After the verdict, the convict was taken into judicial custody to serve the sentence. Odisha Vigilance has also stated that it will move the competent authority for stoppage of his pension following the conviction.
Further legal proceedings are expected.
