Sambalpur, Nov 3: Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday arrested Ajay Kumar Garanaik, Special Land Acquisition Officer of the Sambalpur-Talcher Railway Project, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5.10 lakh from a landowner.

According to Vigilance officials, Garanaik had demanded and accepted the bribe in exchange for releasing Rs 84,62,288 as compensation for land acquired for the railway project. He had also allegedly promised to extend favourable consideration in connection with compensation for the proposed third railway line project.

Following his arrest, Garanaik is being forwarded to the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.

In this connection, Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 20/2026 has been registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Further investigation into the case is underway.