Kumuda Chandra Pradhan, Former Assistant Engineer (Estimator) of the Lift Irrigation Division, Balasore, has been convicted in a bribery case by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Balasore.
Pradhan, now retired, was charge-sheeted under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 from a contractor. The bribe was allegedly solicited to process agreement papers related to the issuance of a work order.
Following a thorough investigation by Odisha Vigilance, the court sentenced Pradhan to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹50,000.
In light of the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has announced its intention to approach the competent authority to initiate proceedings for the stoppage of Pradhan’s pension benefits.
This conviction marks another milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to uphold transparency and accountability in public service.
