Berhampur: CBI officials Friday arrested a BSNL sub-divisional officer and a junior engineer of Berhampur division here in Ganjam district while accepting bribe from a government contractor. The accused duo was identified as SDO Manoranjan Jena and junior engineer Ashok Panigrahy.
Officials seized important documents and conducted raids at their residences respectively, sources said. A case was registered and the duo will be produced in court, CBI officials said.
According to sources, a government contractor Gurudev Gouda based in Bhubaneswar had taken a contract of `2.19 lakh for some construction work at the BSNL office of Berhampur.
Later, Gouda finished the work in 22 days and approached the duo to pass the work bill.
However, the duo paid no heed and made Gouda run from pillar to post for seven months. Later, the bill was passed after seven months but the duo demanded a bribe before handing over the security money to Gouda.
Jena allegedly demanded `4,000 while Panigrahy demanded `3,000 respectively. “Prasad is required before Puja,” is the line the duo used to demand bribe, alleged Gouda. They often called Gouda and said the following lines.
Availing no options, Gouda approached Bhubaneswar CBI officials and put forward his ordeal.
Officials conducted an investigation into the matter and found out the complaint to be true.
Later, a net was spread to arrest the duo red-handed in the presence of witnesses. A six-member team disguised in plainclothes surrounded the BSNL office while Gouda handed over chemical-laced notes to the duo.
Officials seized the chemical-laced notes from their possession in the presence of witnesses and detained them for interrogation. PNN
