Bhubaneswar: In a major operation against corruption, the Odisha Vigilance department arrested three government servants for their involvement in bribery and embezzlement.
According to a release issued by Odisha Vigilance Directorate, Aswini Kumar Panda (OAS) Tahsildar, Bamra, Sambalpur, was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a complainant for converting agricultural land to homestead land in a mutation case.
The Vigilance team apprehended Panda and his office driver, P Praveen Kumar, while taking the bribe. Searches are underway at three locations linked to Panda from a disproportionate assets angle.
Besides, Chittaranjan Rout, District Labour Officer of Nayagarh, was arrested for demanding and taking a bribe of Rs 6,000 from a labourer for issuing labour cards.
The Vigilance team caught Rout red-handed while accepting the bribe. Searches are being conducted at three locations linked to Rout from a disproportionate assets angle.
Miss Puspita Mahakud, former PEO of Luhasila gram panchayat in Mayurbhanj was nabbed for embezzling government funds worth Rs 5,68,950 meant for distribution to senior citizens as old age pension.
The Vigilance department has registered cases against the accused and investigations are in progress.
