Raikia: A team of officials from Berhampur Vigilance division caught Raikia tehsildar Chakradhar Padhi red-handed while he was taking a bribe of Rs 40,000 in Kandhamal district Thursday.
According to sources, the tehsildar was caught on the charge of demanding and accepting bribe. The official had demanded the bribe money from a tractor owner for releasing the latter’s stone-laden vehicle, an official of the Vigilance team said.
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The tractor owner named Senapati Pradhan from Mandakia village under Raikia tehsil limits in Kandhamal district had been carrying stones to use in a well construction work awarded to him under MGNREGS.
Tehsildar Padhi detained Pradhan’s tractor mid-way and had demanded a bribe of Rs 40,000 for releasing the vehicle.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the tractor owner, the Vigilance team conducted a raid on Padhi’s office in the morning leading to the arrest of the tehsildar. Later, his government residence was also raided.
PNN
