Sonepur: Vigilance sleuths Friday arrested Meghanath Manhira, a junior clerk of tehsil office here while he was taking bribe to issue a certified copy of mutation document to a tenant.
The clerk was produced in Bolangir Vigilance court the same day and was later sent to jail as his bail petition was rejected, it is learnt.
According to the case diary, Bandha Bihari of Haldipali area near Sonepur had applied to the tehsil office to get a mutation copy of his land. He had to meet Meghanath several times for his work as the latter was allegedly delaying the process. Harassing him for over 10 months, the clerk finally demanded Rs 1,000 to issue the document. Aggrieved, the victim approached Vigilance DSP Laxman Jal to help him in the matter.
A case was registered on behalf of Sambalpur Vigilance and the officials hatched a plan to catch the corrupt official red-handed.
The accused hails from Highschool Pada of Titilagarh in Bolangir district but was staying at Revenue Colony of Sonepur for the last few years.
Apart from DSP Jal, Bargarh DSP Rabi Narayan Patra, and inspector Ramakanth Sai were part of the raiding team. PNN
