Karanjia Tehsildar in Vigilance Snare

Mayurbhanj: The officers of the Vigilance department carried out the raids on the properties of Charles Nayak, OAS-A (SB), tehsildar of Karanjia on allegations of accumulation of disproportionate assets. Simultaneous raids were carried out at his office, his government quarters in Karanjia and ancestral home in Bhadrak.

Officers of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar vigilance cells are part of the raids. On the allegation of demand and acceptance of bribe Rs.12,00,000/- (Rupees Twelve Lakhs) from a complainant in order to release the land acquisition award of Rs.51,75,810/- in his favour, searches are being conducted in the office and premises of Sri Charles Nayak at the following places:

1) Office room of Tehsildar -Karanjia.

2) Official residence of Tehsildar , Karanjia located at Karanjia.

3) Residential house of Charls Nayak located near District Hospital, Bhadrak.

4) Another place located at Chadei Bhol, Karanjia.

Four teams of Odisha Vigilance are conducting searches on the strength of search warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Baripada.

The complainant was awarded a compensation of Rs 51,75,810/- recently in lieu of acquisition of his land by the NHAI authorities. The Tahsildar demanded the bribe amount in the form of two blank cheques of Rs.10 lakhs and Rs.2 lakhs, in order to release the compensation cheque of the complainant. Finding no alternative, the complainant handed over 2 blank cheques to the Tahasildar. After handing over and presentation of cheques in the bank for withdrawal of the bribe amount, the complainant reported the matter to Vigilance for legal action.

In this connection, Vigilance Cell PS Case No.5/2023 has been registered.

First case of bribe Rs.12 Lakhs by cheque mode also highest bribe amount in a case. Earlier, it was 10 lakhs in Manasi Jena case.