Sambalpur: Land acquisition officer arrested for allegedly taking bribe
Special Land Acquisition Officer Ajay Kumar Garanaik was caught by Odisha Vigilance while accepting Rs 3.10 lakh from a landowner.
The Odisha Vigilance arrested Ajay Kumar Garanaik, the Special Land Acquisition Officer for the Sambalpur-Talcher doubling rail line project, on Monday. According to reports from Sambad English and ThePrint, the officer was apprehended while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3.10 lakh from a complainant.
Garanaik had reportedly demanded a total bribe of Rs 5.10 lakh to release a pending compensation amount of Rs 84,62,288 for acquired land. The complainant had previously paid Rs 2 lakh to the officer on October 27.
The officer allegedly promised to provide favourable treatment regarding future compensation for a third railway line project. He also reportedly told the landowner that he would cause difficulties during those future proceedings if the remaining money was not paid.
Vigilance officials caught Garanaik red-handed during a trap operation. The entire tainted amount of Rs 3.10 lakh was recovered and seized from his possession.
Investigators have launched simultaneous searches at three locations linked to Garanaik to check for assets allegedly accumulated through illegal means. A case has been registered at the Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
The accused is being forwarded to the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, in Sambalpur today.