Bhubaneswar: A former Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a Vigilance court, Badagada on Tuesday for demanding and accepting a ₹7,000 bribe from a beneficiary to facilitate the release of the final instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
Chhabila Bariha, former PEO of Purena Gram Panchayat in Bargarh district, was convicted by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Badagada, in the bribery case registered under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on Bariha. Following the conviction, he was sent to jail custody to serve his sentence.
According to the Odisha Vigilance, Bariha had demanded and accepted ₹7,000 from a PMAY-G beneficiary for facilitating the release of the scheme’s final instalment.
The anti-corruption agency said it would now approach the competent authority for stoppage of the pension of Bariha, who has since retired from government service.
