Keonjhar: Vigilance officials on Wednesday arrested Sarat Kumar Giri, deputy collector, land acquisition (General), for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 in his office at the Keonjhar collectorate.
Giri, who serves as the competent authority for land acquisition, was caught red-handed. He had demanded the amount for disbursing compensation for land acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). “The bribe amount was seized from Giri,” said Sudhanshu Pujari, DSP, Keonjhar vigilance unit. Vigilance teams are searching three locations linked to Giri. “The total amount of disproportionate assets will be calculated after completion of the searches,” Pujari said.
According to vigilance sources, the district judge’s court, Keonjhar, ordered payment of compensation of Rs 6,96,696 in the joint account of the complainant and his brothers in Sept 2024. After that the complainant visited the office of deputy collector five to six times, requesting him to transfer the amount to their joint account. However, the deputy collector demanded 10% commission to transfer the amount, vigilance sources added.
The complainant cited his poor condition and requested the deputy collector for payment of his compensation, following which the deputy collector reduced the bribe amount to Rs 50,000.