Anti-corruption vigilance sleuths today arrested three persons including an Executive Officer and a dealing assistant of Baripada Municipality in Odisha for allegedly accepting a Rs 3 lakh bribe for issuing of trade license in favour of a hotel.
Executive Officer Samaresh Mohanty, dealing assistant Bula Mohanty alias Pankaj Mohanty and Gagan Bihari Mohanta, a private person, were arrested after vigilance sleuths laid a trap on the basis of a complaint by Chandan Mohakud, advocate of Hotel Golden Inn, Baripada, vigilance officers said.
Mohakud had alleged he had applied for Trade License in favour of Hotel Golden Inn. He met the Executive Officer dealing assistant for issue of license and both the accused persons demanded Rs 6 lakh as illegal gratification for the above purpose, they said.
After negotiation, both the accused agreed to settled the matter with Rs 5.5 lakh. On further request, they agreed to receive Rs 3,00,000 as first instalment, the rest Rs 2.5 lakh later on and promised to process the file after receipt of bribe money, they said.
A trap was laid by vigilance officials. The accused Dealing Assistant Pankaj directed the complainant to accompany him to a nearby photocopy shop owned by his friend Gagan Bihari Mohanta and asked him to hand over the cash of Rs 3,00,000, they said.
Accordingly, Mohakud handed over Rs 3 lakh to Gagan Bihari Mohanta and the bribe money was recovered from his possession, they said adding the three were arrested and further investigation was in progress.
