States » EastPosted at: Nov 3 2026 12:19AM


Odisha land acquisition officer held while taking Rs 3.10 lakh bribe

Bhubaneswar, Nov 2 (UNI) Odisha Vigilance on Monday nabbed a Special Land Acquisition Officer for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3.10 lakh from a landowner in exchange for releasing compensation and promising favourable consideration in a future land acquisition process in Angul.

The accused, Ajay Kumar Garanaik, posted in the Sambalpur-Talcher Doubling Rail Line Project, had allegedly demanded Rs 5.10 lakh from the complainant for releasing Rs 84.62 lakh in land acquisition compensation.
He had received Rs 2 lakh on October 27 and was pressing for the remaining Rs 3.10 lakh.
Garanaik allegedly threatened to create hurdles in the complainant's future compensation claim for the proposed third railway line if the remaining bribe was not paid.
Following a complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and intercepted Garanaik near B.Ed. College
in Angul while he was allegedly accepting the remaining amount. The entire Rs 3.10 lakh was recovered from his possession.
Chemical tests on both his hands also yielded positive results, confirming contact with the bribe money. Simultaneous searches were launched at his government quarters in Angul, his ancestral house at Giridhar Prasad village in Dhenkanal district and his office chamber.
Garanaik has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Further investigation, including a disproportionate assets angle, is underway, Vigilance said.
UNI MK BM
Tags: #Odisha land acquisition officer held while taking Rs 3.10 lakh bribe
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