In a major win for Odisha Vigilance against corruption, Kalandi Charan Bhuyan, a retired Junior Accountant-cum-Lease Clerk, has been convicted in a bribery case.
The Special Judge, Vigilance, Bolangir, sentenced Bhuyan to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000.
Bhuyan was charge-sheeted under Sambalpur Vigilance PS Case No.16 dated 27.06.2019, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, for demanding and accepting a Rs 10,000 bribe from a complainant. The bribe was sought in exchange for granting permission to cut and transport exempted trees standing on farmers’ recorded lands.
Following his conviction, Odisha Vigilance has announced its intention to move the competent authority to stop Bhuyan’s pension, ensuring accountability even post-retirement.
This case underscores the state’s commitment to uprooting corruption and holding individuals accountable, regardless of their rank or retirement status.