The Special Judge, Vigilance, Baragada, has convicted Gobardhan Meher, former Senior Clerk of the Tahasil Office in Bhatli, in a bribery case.
The court sentenced him to undergo four years of rigorous imprisonment along with a financial fine.
Following the pronouncement of the verdict today, Meher, who was currently serving as a Senior Clerk in the Revenue Section at the Baragarh Collectorate, was immediately remanded to jail custody to serve his sentence.
The case dates back to an investigation by Odisha Vigilance, which chargesheeted Meher under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988.
According to official sources, Meher had demanded and accepted a bribe of ₹5,000 from a local farmer in exchange for releasing a government check issued toward drought compensation. The illegal demand from a distressed farmer triggered a Vigilance probe, ultimately leading to his prosecution and conviction.
Following the court’s judgment, representatives from Odisha Vigilance confirmed that they will approach the competent authority to initiate formal proceedings for Meher’s dismissal from government service.
