Rs 25 Lakh Bribery Allegation: Case Registered Against Nayagarh Collector & 3 Others

Bhubaneswar: Chandpur police booked Nayagarh district Collector Rabindra Nath Sahu and three others for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from a laterite stone mine lease holder under Ranpur Tehsil.

The other three persons are Dillip Kumar Samantaray from Bajrakote, Deepak Kumar Routray from Ostapada and Ganeswar Mandhata from Champagada.

A case was registered against them following a directive from Orissa High Court, police sources said.

The laterite stone mine lease holder, Sushant Kumar Barad has alleged that the Nayagarh Collector along with three others had visited Mayurjhalia laterite stone mine area on January 26, 2023. At that time he had asked for a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant.

Barad claims to have lodged complaints with Chandpur police and Nayagarh SP. When no action was initiated he moved Orissa High Court.

Meanwhile, Nayagarh Collector Sahu has denied the allegations made against him. According to him, the NGT has slapped a fine of Rs 2.81 crore on the mining lease holder following a survey. Section 144 has also been clamped in the mining area. According to the collector, the bribe allegation has been brought up to divert attention from those incidents.