Bhubaneswar: A special Vigilance court in Sundargarh has convicted a retired forester of Rouldega Forest Section in Sundargarh district, for demanding and accepting a bribe from a complainant. Jagadish Pradhan was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four years and pay a fine of Rs.10,000.
The case against Pradhan stemmed from allegations that he demanded and accepted a bribe in exchange for not registering a case under the Forest Act following a house search. Odisha Vigilance had charge-sheeted Pradhan under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the PC Act, 1988.
Following his conviction, Pradhan has been sent to jail custody to serve his sentence. Furthermore, Odisha Vigilance will move the competent authority to stop Pradhan’s pension.
