Forest officer arrested for taking bribe, Rs 17 lakh recovered

The anti-corruption vigilance sleuths today arrested Pradipta Kumar Mohanty, Deputy Range Officer, Padampur forest range of Bargarh district on a graft charge.
Mohanty was arrested under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1980 after he was caught red handed by the vigilance sleuths while accepting Rs 20,000 from a man for passing his bill in the matter of construction of forest quarters and boundary wall at Gaisilate which was constructed by the complainant in 2013-14.
"His (Mohanty) hand wash and table drawer wash gave positive chemical reactions confirming acceptance of bribe money. The relevant documents have been seized and he was arrested and forwarded to court today," an official release said.

Mohanty, who was subsequently produced at the court of special judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur, was sent to judicial custody till December 1, it said.
"During a search at Mohanty's house Rs 17,96,980 of cash, gold ornaments worth of Rs 3.48 lakh, silver ornaments worth of Rs 2.30 lakh, one car of around Rs 4 lakh, one motor cycle costing of Rs 50,000, costly furnitures worth Rs 85,950, electrical gadgets worth of Rs 1,19,317, household articles worth Rs 30,000 were recovered," the release said.
The total assets of Mohanty was calculated to Rs 30,60,247.