A special vigilance judge in Balangir on Monday convicted a retired additional tehsildar in a bribery case, sentencing him to three years in prison. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the former revenue official.
Case Details
According to court records, Rajendra Choudhury, the former additional tehsildar (retired), was charge-sheeted by Odisha vigilance under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018. He was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a complainant to issue a crucial transit pass, known as a Y-Form, while posted at the Deogaon tehsil in Balangir district.
Vigilance Trap
Choudhury was trapped by vigilance sleuths in 2021 while accepting the bribe. The vigilance team planned the operation after the complainant approached them, leading to his arrest red-handed.
Following the conviction, vigilance officials stated they would approach relevant authorities to halt Choudhury’s pension benefits. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by Odisha vigilance to curb corruption among public officials.
