Geologist Arrested for Accepting Rs 50K Bribe in Balangir

Balangir: Ashim Anshuman  Nayak, a geologist at the Ground Water Development (GWD) Department in the office of the Deputy Director, Geology, Ground Water Development (GWD) Division, Bolangir was caught red-handed and arrested by the Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Wednesday for demanding and accepting final installment of bribe Rs 40,000 of an overall demand of bribe of Rs 50,000.

He had demanded this bribe from a consultant (complainant) engaged by the “CHHATA” scheme of the Odisha government for Rooftop Water Harvesting.

The complainant was requesting the accused Nayak to release his consultancy fees for over a year. But, the accused was demanding Rs 50,000 bribe to release his payments.

Nayak asked the complainant to pay Rs 10,000 as 1st installment to process the file. The complainant paid the amount a few days back and complained to the vigilance department.

The vigilance officials set a trap and nabbed Nayak red-handed while he accepted the remaining bribe amount of Rs 40,000 on Wednesday.

The entire bribe money has been recovered from accused Nayak and seized.

Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are underway at three locations linked to Nayak from the disproportionate asset (DA) angle. A case has been registered at the Sambalpur Vigilance in this connection.