Senior OAS officer caught taking ₹50,000 bribe in Keonjhar

Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: Odisha Vigilance officials on Wednesday apprehended senior OAS officer Sarat Kumar Giri for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 in exchange for disbursing compensation money for land acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Giri, who serves as OAS-A (SB), LA (General), and Competent Authority for Land Acquisition in the Keonjhar Collectorate, was caught red-handed while demanding and receiving the bribe at his office. Vigilance officials seized the entire amount from his possession and launched an inquiry.

According to sources, the District Judge's Court, Keonjhar, had earlier ordered a compensation of ₹6,96,696 to be deposited into the joint account of the complainant and his brothers on September 14, 2024. However, despite multiple visits, Giri allegedly refused to transfer the amount, demanding a 10% commission. After repeated pleas, the bribe amount was lowered to ₹50,000.

Finding no alternative, the complainant approached Vigilance authorities, leading to Giri’s arrest. Further investigations, including searches at three locations linked to him for possible disproportionate assets, are ongoing.