Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended Bhisma Pradhan, Revenue Inspector (RI) of Goudpalli Revenue Circle under Jamankira Tahasil, Sambalpur, for accepting a bribe of Rs. 40,000.
The Vigilance sleuths conducted a sting operation and caught RI Pradhan red-handed while he was taking the bribe from a landless complainant seeking a favourable report for a lease case and issuance of a Record of Rights (ROR) or land patta for himself and his family members.
The complainant had approached Pradhan since November 2024, but the official demanded Rs. 40,000 to process the lease case. Frustrated by the persistent demands, the complainant alerted Odisha Vigilance, which swiftly organised a trap. The entire bribe amount was recovered and seized from Pradhan’s possession during the operation.
Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are underway at two of Pradhan’s properties to investigate potential disproportionate assets. A case has been registered under Sambalpur Vigilance P.S. Case No. 12, dated June 11, 2025, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities promising a detailed report soon.
