Keonjhar, Feb 19: Sarat Kumar Giri, Deputy Collector Land Acquisition, Keonjhar Collectorate, has been arrested by the Odisha Vigilance sleuths for allegedly taking bribe from a complicit.

Giri was caught by Odisha Vigilance while taking a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the complicit for disbursing the compensation amount of his land acquired for NHAI (National Highways Authority of India). Giri’s complicit has been identified as Chitrasen Brahma, who helped the vigilance sleuths to apprehend Giri.

As per the report, government has acquired 1.5 acres of land from Chitrasen’s family for National Highway 20 (NH20). Chitrasen’s family had earlier received some amount of the land value.

Now, the Deputy Collector was asking for a bribe of Rs 70,000 to clear his remaining bill of Rs 6,96,996 against the land. Later, Giri reduced his demand to Rs 50,000.

Chitrasen later decided to take help from CBI, who registered a case – Balasore Vigilance PS Case No. 1/2025 under section 7PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 – in this connection.

Searches were being conducted at various properties linked to Giri. More details are awaited as investigation is underway.

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