Former Soil Conservation Officer Sentenced to 3 Years in Bribery Case

Bhubaneswar: A vigilance court in Bhawanipatna has convicted a former Junior Soil Conservation Officer, Amar Kumar Das, in a bribery case and sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 20,000.

Das, who had retired from the Watershed Development Project in Narla block of Kalahandi district, was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 6,865 from a team member. He had allegedly sought the illegal gratification to forward utilisation certificates and extend the service agreement of the complainant.

The Odisha Vigilance had registered a case against Das and later filed a charge sheet under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. After examining the evidence, the court pronounced him guilty.

Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance officials said steps would be initiated to stop his pension in accordance with rules, reinforcing accountability in corruption-related cases involving retired government officials.