Rabindra Nath Pradhan, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Excise Department in Harabhanga, Boudh district, has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment and suspended from service for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.
The incident dates back to Pradhan’s tenure at the Deogarh Excise Department, where he was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Department while allegedly accepting the bribe to settle a case. A formal case was registered under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d), 7, and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Following a detailed investigation, the case was heard on September 26, 2025, at the Sambalpur Vigilance Court, which found Pradhan guilty and handed down the sentence. The court’s directive also led to his immediate suspension from government service.
The Vigilance Department confirmed the conviction and emphasized its commitment to rooting out corruption within public institutions. The case has sparked discussions across the region, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
