Kendrapara: Vigilance sleuths of Kendrapara led by inspector Manoranjan Paikaray Tuesday arrested Gouranga Charan Sahu, assistant horticulture officer of Kendrapara-cum-public information officer, on the charge of taking a bribe of Rs 1,500 from a person.
According to Paikaray, Gouranga Panda, a resident of Kalabuda, had recently filed an RTI application with Sahu seeking information about coconut plantation. However, Sahu asked the applicant to deposit a fee of Rs 560 and pay him a bribe of Rs 1,500 for getting the information under RTI Act.
Panda brought the matter to the notice of Vigilance department Monday night. Vigilance sleuths Tuesday laid a trap and caught the officer red-handed while he was accepting the bribe from Panda at his office. The accused will be produced in a Cuttack-based court within 24 hours, Paikaray said. PNN
