Mayurbhanj: Odisha Vigilance sleuths are conducting simultaneous raids in the office of and premises linked to Karanjia Tahasildar Charles Nayak in Mayurbhanj district acting on the allegation of demand and acceptance of Rs 12,00,000 bribe from a complainant to release a land acquisition award worth Rs 51,75,810 in the latter’s favour.
According to reports, this is the first time that someone has demanded a bribe through a cheque. Besides it is also the highest amount of bribe demanded by any Odisha official. Earlier, Manasi Jena had demanded Rs 10 lakh bribe.
The searches are underway simultaneously in the office room of Tahasildar-Karanjia, his official residence at Karanjia, Nayak’s residential house near Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, and at another place in Chadei Bhol.
Four teams of Odisha Vigilance led by one Additional SP, seven Deputy SPs, three Inspectors, and other staff are conducting searches on the basis of search warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Baripada.
According to the Odisha Vigilance Department, the complainant was recently awarded a compensation of Rs 51,75,810 in lieu of the acquisition of his land by the NHAI authorities. The Tahsildar demanded the bribe amount in the form of two blank cheques of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 2 lakh to release the compensation cheque to the complainant. Finding no alternative, the complainant handed over two blank cheques to the Tahasildar. After handing over and presentation of the cheques to the bank for withdrawal of the bribe amount, the complainant reported the matter to the Odisha Vigilance Department for legal action.
