Balangir, Feb21: Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Wednesday apprehended  a Senior Revenue Assistant and Record Keeper of Muribahal Tahasil in Balangir district for allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 10,000 bribe from a complainant to issue land patta in a mutation case.

The accused official has been identified as Heblet Barla.

Today, Sri Heblet Barla, Sr. Revenue Asst.-cum-Record Keeper, Muribahal Tahasil, #Bolangir, has been apprehended by #Odisha #Vigilance while taking bribe Rs.10,000/- as 1st instal. of the overall demand of Rs 20,000/- from a Complt. for issuance of ROR in a Mutation Case.

— Odisha Vigilance (@OdishaVigilance) February 21, 2024

According to the Vigilance sources, Barla was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs.10,000 as first instalment of total demand of Rs 20,000 from a complainant for issuance of ROR (Land Patta) in his favour in a mutation case.

Earlier, the complainant had approached the Vigilance officials and sought action against the accused official.

On the basis of complaint, the anticorruption agency laid a trap and caught the Senior Revenue Assistant and Record Keeper while he was receiving the bribe money.

The entire bribe amount was reportedly seized from the possession of the accused official in the presence of witness.

Following the trap, the Vigilance officials conducted simultaneous raids at various locations associated with Barla to unearth alleged disproportionate assets (DA) amassed by him, officials said.

Sambalpur Vigilance registered a case under Section 7 PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, in this connection and an investigation is in progress against the accused official, they added.  

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