BHUBANESWAR: A Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) was arrested by Odisha's anti-corruption vigilance sleuths for allegedly accepting bribe from an official at Khariar in Nuapada district.
Laxmikanta Mishra, DFO, Kendu Leaf Division at Khariar had allegedly demanded illegal gratification of Rs 2,20,000 from Parsuram Patel, In-Charge Range Officer, Lakhana Kendu Leaf Range against an advance of Rs 13,90,000 credited towards construction of office-cum-residence of Forest Range Officer, at Lakhana, a vigilance release said.
Based on the complaint of Patel, a trap was laid and Mishra was caught red handed by vigilance sleuths at his residential government quarter at Khariar, while accepting bribe of Rs 2,20,000 from the complainant, it said adding the bribe money was recovered from the bed room of Mishra.
After successful detection of the trap case, the residential quarter of Mishra at Khariar was searched and a sum of Rs 8,50,000 along with some other documents relating to LIC policies have been seized, the vigilance said.
Searches were also conducted at the native place of Mishra at Baripada and flat at Bhubaneswar and some relevant documents have been seized. All the documents are under verification.
Mishra was not able to explain the possession of huge amount of money in his quarter, it added.