Balangir, August 10: The Odisha Vigilance has secured the conviction of two former senior officers of the Patnagarh Forest Division in a bribery case involving ₹1.66 lakh.

Special Vigilance Judge, Balangir sentenced each of the two convicts to three years of rigorous imprisonment, besides imposing a fine.

The convicted officials are Pranab Kumar Mohanty, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Kendu Leaf, Patnagarh Division and Chittaranjan Dehury, former Deputy Range Officer, Kendu Leaf, Ghasian South Range, Patnagarh. Both officials have since retired from service.

According to Odisha Vigilance, the two were charge-sheeted in Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 13 dated June 8, 2020, under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case related to an allegation that the officials had demanded and accepted a bribe of ₹1,66,000 from a Range Officer under Patnagarh Range. The bribe was allegedly sought for the release of funds towards the repair and maintenance of Kendu Leaf Phadies (godowns).

Following the Vigilance investigation and prosecution, the Special Judge, Vigilance, Balangir, convicted both accused today.

As both convicts are retired government employees, Odisha Vigilance is now set to move the competent authority for stoppage of their pension following their conviction.