The Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Jayapur, convicted a former junior clerk and a retired primary school teacher on Friday for demanding and accepting a bribe from a widow to facilitate the sanction of her late husband’s family pension.
The convicts have been identified as Tapan Kumar Khosla, former Junior Clerk at the office of the Block Education Officer (BEO), Kosagumuda (currently serving at New Panchayat High School, Dabugaon), and Bijay Kumar Sahoo, retired teacher of Mirganpada Primary School, Kosagumuda in Nabarangpur district.
The Odisha Vigilance Department had charge-sheeted both accused under Section 7/13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
Upon trial, the court sentenced both individuals to four years of rigorous imprisonment along with monetary fines. Following the verdict, both convicts were immediately taken into judicial custody and sent to jail to serve their sentences.
In light of the conviction, Odisha Vigilance authorities confirmed they will now move the competent authorities to initiate the formal service dismissal of Khosla and enforce the complete stoppage of pension benefits for Sahoo.
