Vigilance Trap / Two RTO Staffers Nabbed in Rourkela for Taking Rs26,000 Bribe

Rourkela, Aug 5: Odisha Vigilance officials on Wednesday apprehended two staffers of the Rourkela Regional Transport Office (RTO) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs26,000 to facilitate the issuance of fresh registration certificates (FRC) for two auctioned trucks.

The accused have been identified as Niranjan Sandha, Dealing Clerk-cum-Night Watcher, and Dharmendra Kumar Behera, IT Executive. Vigilance sources said the duo demanded Rs13,000 per truck from the complainant, who had recently purchased the vehicles through auction from IndusInd Bank after the previous owner defaulted on loan payments.

Despite repeated requests, Sandha allegedly refused to process the applications without payment. Aggrieved, the complainant approached Vigilance authorities, who laid a trap. Both accused were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe, and the entire tainted amount was recovered and seized.

Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were launched at three locations linked to Sandha to investigate disproportionate assets. A case has been registered at Rourkela Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Officials confirmed that the investigation remains in progress against both Sandha and Behera. “Appropriate supplementary chargesheets, if warranted by further evidence, will be submitted before the competent court in accordance with law,” Vigilance sources said.

The incident highlights persistent corruption in transport offices, where applicants often face demands for illegal gratification despite clear departmental rules. Vigilance officials reiterated their commitment to act against such practices and urged citizens to report instances of bribery.