Berhampur: The Assistant Collector and grievance cell in-charge Banamali Satapathy in Ganjam district has been accused of allegedly accepting bribe of Rs 2,00,000 from a woman applicant to accord a drug license to her. However, the woman wanted her money back as she did not get the license. It has been alleged that the accused has paid back Rs 1.70 lakh. An argument between the two took place Thursday afternoon over the return of the remaining amount. The video of the argument has gone viral on social media. The woman has been identified as Siprarani Jena of Banivihar residential area under Aska NAC limits in the district.
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Siprarani’s father previously owned a medicine shop in Aska town. Following the death of her father, she applied to the Berhampur deputy drug controller (south zone) for transfer of existing drug license to her mother’s name, in order to facilitate the change of ownership of the shop. She approached the grievance cell when her application was turned down. It was then Satapathy demanded a bribe of Rs 2,00,000 to carry out the procedures to change the name of the licensee. However, he did not do the job as promised.
The woman then approached Ganjam District Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange for proper action. On coming to know about the alleged demand for bribe, Kulange requested the government to give compulsory retirement to the accused official. The collector has also ordered a departmental enquiry against Satapathy and asked for a probe by the Vigilance department.
PNN