Clerk arrested on graft charge in Odisha

A bench clerk and in-charge of judicial section at the Collectorate in Bargarh district has been arrested by anti-corruption vigilance wing for allegedly taking Rs 7,000 bribe from a man to process a file.
Tusarakanta Pradhan was arrested by Vigilance Officers of Sambalpur Division yesterday for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 7,000 from complainant Hrusikesh Pradhan to process a file for issue of No Objection Certificate for installation of a petrol pump, a vigilance release said.
The complainant had applied for NOC for installation of a petrol pump at Kadilipali under Bheden police station limit to Bargarh district Collector along with clearance report from Tahasildar, Executive Engineer, RD Bargarh and Fire Officer Sambalpur on March 9, 2015. The oil company had also applied for no objection in his favour, it said.

The complainant had requested the Bench Clerk, who was dealing with the matter for processing the file for issue of NOC and the accused Pradhan demanded illegal gratification of Rs 7,000 for this purpose. Getting no other alternative he reported the matter to Vigilance, it said.
The accused was caught red handed by the Vigilance team while demanding and accepting the amount from the complainant in his office.
The investigation is in progress, the release said.