Odisha Vigilance Nabs Land Acquisition Officer With Rs 3.10 Lakh Bribe

Sambalpur: Odisha Vigilance on Monday caught Ajay Kumar Garanaik, Special Land Acquisition Officer for the Sambalpur-Talcher Doubling Rail Line Project, red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3.10 lakh.

According to Vigilance officials, Garanaik had allegedly demanded Rs 5.10 lakh from a landowner for facilitating the release of Rs 84.62 lakh in land acquisition compensation. He had already received Rs 2 lakh on October 27 and was caught while accepting the remaining amount during a trap operation on November 2.

The officer had allegedly threatened to create hurdles in future land acquisition proceedings for the proposed third railway line if the remaining amount was not paid.

Vigilance officials recovered the entire bribe amount and launched simultaneous searches at three locations linked to the accused to probe possible disproportionate assets.

A case has been registered at Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation is underway.