Balangir, July 15, 2025: In a significant development in the fight against corruption, two government officials have been convicted by the Special Vigilance Court in Balangir for accepting bribes in exchange for processing land documents.
The convicts Bikash Bhoi, I/c Head Clerk (Retired), Office of the Tahasildar, Agalpur, and SChandra Sekhar Patra, then Revenue Assistant at the same office and currently serving as Senior Revenue Assistant at the Panchayat Samiti Office, Gudvela were found guilty of demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a complainant in order to process and deliver a Record of Rights (RoR) in his favour.
The case was registered under Sambalpur Vigilance PS Case No. 10 dated 03.06.2020, under Sections 7(a)/12 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, following a trap laid by Odisha Vigilance. After a thorough investigation, a charge sheet was filed, and the matter proceeded to trial.
Delivering the verdict today, the Hon’ble Special Judge, Vigilance, Balangir, sentenced both accused to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a monetary fine.
Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance has announced its intention to recommend punitive action to the competent authorities — including stoppage of pension benefits to Sri Bikash Bhoi and the dismissal of Sri Chandra Sekhar Patra from government service.
This conviction marks another success in the ongoing efforts by the Odisha Vigilance to root out corruption from public service and ensure accountability among government employees.
Further details are awaited.
